How much alcohol per person for a party?

A general rule is 1-1.5 drinks per person per hour, so a 4-hour party works out to roughly 4-5 drinks per person. In practice the first hour is often heavier and later hours lighter, so this calculator uses a single average rate and applies a small downward buffer multiplier (default 0.9) to give a sensible overall total rather than modelling each hour separately.

How do I estimate the split between wine, beer, and spirits?

A common split for a mixed UK party is 40% wine, 40% beer, 10% spirits, and 10% soft drinks. Adjust based on your guests — a summer BBQ might be heavier on beer, while a dinner party leans towards wine.

Should I buy extra just in case?

The default buffer multiplier (0.9) keeps the estimate from over-catering, so these figures are a sensible middle ground rather than a worst-case maximum. It is always wise to buy from a retailer with a good returns policy so you can take back unopened bottles. If you would rather err generous, set the Taper Factor to 1.0 in Advanced Options or simply buy 10-15% more than calculated.

How much mixer should I buy?

Plan for about 150ml of mixer per spirit drink — that is tonic, soda, or cola. The calculator includes mixer quantities. Buy a mix of tonic, soda, and cola, plus plenty of ice and lemon.

What about non-drinkers?

Always cater for non-drinkers with quality soft drinks, sparkling water, and perhaps a non-alcoholic cocktail or punch. Adjust the soft drinks percentage upward if you know many guests do not drink alcohol.

BakeCalcs

Party Drinks Calculator

Calculate how many bottles of wine, beer, and spirits to buy for a party based on guest count, duration, and preferences.

Number of Guests

Total head count including non-drinkers — cover them via the Soft Drink Only %

Party Duration

Event TypeSets drinks/person/hour: casual & cocktail 1.5, wedding 1.2, dinner 1.0

Wine Drinkers

Beer Drinkers

Spirit Drinkers

Soft Drink Only

How We Calculate This

The calculator estimates total drinks needed from a single average consumption rate that varies by event type (drinks per person per hour × duration), applies a small downward buffer multiplier (default 0.9) so you do not over-cater, then splits the total across drink categories according to your percentage split. It uses one overall rate rather than modelling a heavier first hour and lighter later hours separately.

Consumption Rates

Casual party / BBQ: ~1.5 drinks per person per hour
Dinner party: ~1 drink per person per hour
Wedding / formal: ~1.2 drinks per person per hour
Cocktail party: ~1.5 drinks per person per hour

Bottle Conversions

Wine: 1 bottle (750ml) = 5 glasses
Beer: 1 bottle/can = 1 drink
Spirits: 1 bottle (700ml) = 28 single measures (25ml)

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Calculators

Cocktail Batch Calculator

Scale a single cocktail recipe to a batch for multiple servings.

Punch Bowl Calculator

Calculate spirit, juice, and mixer quantities for punch based on number of guests.

Mulled Wine Calculator

Calculate wine, sugar, and spice quantities for mulled wine by number of servings.

Coffee Brew Ratio Calculator

Calculate coffee grounds and water for your brew method and desired strength.

Cold Brew Coffee Calculator

Calculate coffee and water for cold brew concentrate based on ratio and batch size.

Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are based on standard ratios and conversions. Results may vary with specific ingredients, equipment, and conditions.