How much alcohol for 50 guests
For a five-hour reception: 258 drinks — 25 bottles of wine, 4 cases of beer and 6 bottles of liquor, plus a sparkling toast, ice and mixers. Adjust it for your crowd in the calculator.
The full list: 50 guests, 5 hours, full bar (US)
43 drinking guests × (2 drinks in the first hour + 1 an hour after) = 258 drinks, split 30 % beer, 45 % wine, 25 % spirits, rounded up to whole units.
| Item | Buy | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| White wine | 11 bottles | 11 bottles · 5 × 5 fl oz glasses per bottle |
| Red wine | 10 bottles | 10 bottles · 5 × 5 fl oz glasses per bottle |
| Rosé | 4 bottles | 4 bottles · 5 × 5 fl oz glasses per bottle |
| Beer | 4 cases | 12 oz cans/bottles, cases of 24 · 77 servings needed |
| Vodka | 2 bottles | 750 ml · 16 × 1.5 fl oz pours per bottle |
| Whiskey / bourbon | 1 bottle | 750 ml · 16 × 1.5 fl oz pours per bottle |
| Gin | 1 bottle | 750 ml · 16 × 1.5 fl oz pours per bottle |
| Tequila | 1 bottle | 750 ml · 16 × 1.5 fl oz pours per bottle |
| Rum | 1 bottle | 750 ml · 16 × 1.5 fl oz pours per bottle |
| Sparkling wine for the toast | 7 bottles | 7 bottles · 8 toast pours per bottle; non-drinkers get sparkling juice |
| Sparkling juice / alcohol-free fizz | 1 bottles | 8 toast pours per bottle |
| Tonic water | 2 bottles | 2 L bottles |
| Soda water | 1 bottle | 2 L bottles |
| Cola | 1 bottle | 2 L bottles |
| Ginger beer / ale | 1 bottle | 2 L bottles |
| Cranberry or orange juice | 1 bottle | 2 L bottles |
| Soft drinks, sparkling water, lemonade | 23 bottles | 2 L bottles · ≈ 150 servings |
| Still water | 5 packs | Packs of 5 L or a water station; check the venue tap water |
| Ice | 150 lb | 7 × 20 lb + 1 × 10 lb bags · about half for drinks, half for chilling |
| Limes | 9 limes | 1 lime ≈ 8 wedges |
| Lemons | 5 lemons | 1 lemon ≈ 8 wedges, half the spirit drinks |
| Oranges (twists, old fashioneds) | 3 oranges | Plus cocktail cherries and mint if your menu needs them |
| Wine glasses | 30 glasses | 1.5 per wine drinker (no washing) |
| Highball / rocks glasses | 17 glasses | 1.5 per spirits drinker |
| Flutes for the toast | 50 flutes | One per guest |
| Water / soft drink glasses or cups | 75 glasses | |
| Cocktail napkins | 150 napkins | 3 per guest, packs of 50 |
At example retail prices the drinks, mixers and ice come to about $695 ($14 a guest) — your prices will differ.
4, 5 or 6 hours
| Bar open | Drinks | Wine (750 ml) | Beer (cases of 24) | Liquor (750 ml) | Ice (lb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 hours | 215 | 20 | 3 | 6 | 150 |
| 5 hours | 258 | 25 | 4 | 6 | 150 |
| 6 hours | 301 | 29 | 4 | 6 | 150 |
UK and Australian units
UK glasses of wine are usually bigger (175 ml, four to a bottle) and spirit measures smaller (25 ml), so the same party needs more wine bottles and fewer spirit bottles. Australian lists use 150 ml wine, 30 ml nips, 700 ml bottles and cartons of 24 × 375 ml.
| Bar open | UK wine (75 cl) | UK beer (cases) | UK spirits (70 cl) | AU wine (750 ml) | AU beer (cartons) | AU spirits (700 ml) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 hours | 25 | 3 | 5 | 20 | 3 | 5 |
| 5 hours | 31 | 4 | 5 | 25 | 4 | 6 |
| 6 hours | 36 | 4 | 6 | 29 | 4 | 6 |
Drinks cost at example prices for five hours: UK about £602, Australia about $1,224.
Beer and wine only
Dropping spirits (a 40 % beer, 60 % wine split) keeps the same 258 drinks but changes the shopping: 32 bottles of wine and 5 cases of beer, and no mixers beyond soft drinks. It is usually cheaper and quicker to serve, and a dry-hire bar needs fewer bartenders for it.
Consumption is a planning rule of thumb, not a measurement. Serving sizes follow the NIAAA standard drink (US) and gov.uk specified quantities (UK). Serve water throughout and never serve anyone under age or drunk.
Alcohol for 75 guests · How much alcohol for a wedding: the full guide
Frequently asked questions
How much wine for 50 wedding guests?
For a five-hour reception with 85 % of guests drinking and wine as 45 % of drinks, plan 25 bottles of 750 ml (5 glasses each) in the US, 31 bottles at 175 ml UK glasses, plus 7 bottles of sparkling for one toast each.
How much beer for 50 guests?
About 77 beers over five hours at a 30 % beer share: 4 cases of 24, or kegs instead (2 × ⅙-barrel keg (5.16 gal)).
How much liquor for 50 guests?
6 bottles of 750 ml across vodka, whiskey, gin, tequila and rum covers 65 pours of 1.5 oz at a 25 % spirits share over five hours.
How much ice for 50 guests?
About 150 lb if bottles and cans are chilled in tubs, half that if drinks arrive cold. Add 50 % on a hot day.
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