How Much Alcohol Should You Stock for Your Christmas Party?
Hosting a Christmas party can be a lot of fun, but ensuring you have the right amount of alcohol to serve your guests is crucial. Too little, and the festive spirit may be dampened; too much, and you'll be left with bottles you may not use for months. Whether you're planning a small get together or a large festive gathering, here's a guide to help you estimate how much alcohol to stock for your Christmas party.
Know Your Guests
The first step in determining how much alcohol to buy is understanding your guest list. How many people will be attending, and what are their drinking preferences? It’s also important to consider how long your party will last. A shorter gathering may require less alcohol, while a long, late night affair may call for more.
Consider asking guests ahead of time what they prefer to drink; beer, wine, or spirits. This will give you a clearer idea of what to buy and help avoid running out of crowd favourites. As a general rule, it's safe to assume that each guest will consume 2-3 drinks in the first hour and 1-2 drinks per hour after that.
Estimating Alcohol Quantities
Once you know your guests and their drinking habits, you can start estimating the amount of alcohol you'll need. Here's a breakdown based on different party sizes:
Small Gathering (10-20 Guests)
For a smaller, more intimate gathering, you'll want to keep your alcohol choices simple but versatile. Here’s a rough estimate based on 10-20 people:
Wine
People tend to drink more wine at Christmas parties, so plan for about 1 bottle of wine per 2-3 guests. For a party of 15 guests, you’d need around 5-7 bottles of wine; Red Wine: 3-4 bottles, White Wine: 2-3 bottles, Sparkling Wine (optional, for a festive toast): 1-2 bottles.
Beer
Beer is a great go to for those who prefer lighter beverages. Plan for about 1-2 beers per guest. For 15 guests, you should stick around 20-30 bottles of beer (330ml each).
Spirits
Spirits like gin, vodka, rum, and whiskey are always a hit at Christmas parties. A good rule of thumb is to have about 1-2 bottles of each popular spirit. For 15 guests: 1 bottle of vodka, 1 bottle of gin, 1 bottle of whiskey and Mixers (tonic water, soda, cola, juices).
Medium Gathering (20-50 Guests)
For a medium sized gathering, the quantities will increase, but you should still focus on variety and balance. Here's an estimate for 20-50 guests:
Wine
Plan for around 1 bottle of wine per 3 guests, which means for 30 guests, you’ll need about 10-12 bottles of wine; Red Wine: 5-6 bottles, White Wine: 4-5 bottles, Sparkling Wine: 2-4 bottles.
Beer
For beer lovers, plan for 1-2 beers per person. For 30 guests, that’s about 40-60 bottles of beer.
Spirits
With more guests, you may want to offer a wider variety of spirits. Plan for 1-2 bottles of each popular spirit. For 30 guests, 2 bottles of vodka, 2 bottles of gin, 1-2 bottles of whiskey and Mixers (tonic, soda, cola, juices).
Large Gathering (50+ Guests)
A larger gathering requires more careful planning, but it doesn’t need to be overly complicated. Here's how to estimate for a bigger bash:
Wine
Plan for around 1 bottle of wine per 3 guests. For 50 guests, you’ll need around 17-20 bottles of wine; Red Wine: 7-9 bottles, White Wine: 6-8 bottles, Sparkling Wine: 4-6 bottles.
Beer
At this stage, it’s more practical to buy in bulk. Plan for about 1-2 beers per guest. For 50 guests, you’ll need around 60-80 bottles of beer.
Spirits
Stocking up on a wide variety of spirits is key to keeping everyone happy. For a larger crowd, you should have 2-3 bottles of each popular spirit. For 50 guests; 3 bottles of vodka, 2-3 bottles of gin, 2 bottles of rum, 2 bottles of whiskey and Mixers (tonic, soda, cola, juices).
Don’t Forget the Mixers and Garnishes
When you’re hosting a party that includes spirits, you can’t forget about the mixers and garnishes. Some common mixers you should have on hand include:
- Tonic water
- Soda water
- Coca Cola
- Lemonade
- Juices (orange, cranberry, lime)
Additionally, make sure you have garnishes like lemons, limes, olives, and mint to help your guests create their favourite cocktails.
Factor in the Timing
Consider the time of day and the length of your party when estimating alcohol quantities. If your party is during the day or includes a meal, guests may drink slightly less than at an evening only event. A short event may only require 2-3 drinks per person, while a longer event will need more planning for 3-5 drinks per person.
Always Have Extra
It’s always a good idea to have a little extra on hand in case your guests are thirstier than you expect. Running out of alcohol midway through a Christmas party can put a damper on the evening. It's better to have a few extra bottles than not enough.
Create The Ultimate Christmas Party with Fletcher Drinks
Remember, a good party offers a variety of drinks. Stock wine, beer, and spirits to cater to different preferences. Also, if you’re hosting a very large gathering or on a budget, don’t be afraid to make your party a ‘bring your own bottle’ event. Most guests won’t mind bringing their favourite drink to share and it often helps to ease up on the cost you’ll need to cover yourself.
Don’t forget to always have a selection of non alcoholic beverages for guests who prefer not to drink or are designated drivers.
With these tips, you will be prepared to host a successful Christmas party without worrying about running out of drinks. Remember, the key to a great gathering is making sure your guests feel welcome, well catered for, and ready to celebrate. If you are ready to stock up on alcoholic beverages, head over to the Fletcher Drinks website to secure your required drinks or chat to one of our experts for further help via our live chat feature.
