How Much Alcohol Do I Need for a 50-Person Party? A Bartender’s Guide

Planning a celebration is exciting, but let’s be honest: one of the biggest sources of stress is figuring out exactly how much booze to buy. You don't want to run out of drinks before the party reaches its peak, but you also don’t want to end up with ten cases of leftover wine taking up space in your kitchen for the next year. As professional bartenders here in Chicago, we’ve served countless events, and we have perfected the math to ensure your 50-person bash goes off without a hitch. ## The Golden Ratio for 50 Guests To get a solid baseline for a standard 4-hour party, we generally suggest the 'two drinks per person for the first hour, and one drink per person for every hour after' rule. For 50 guests over four hours, that equates to roughly 250 drinks total. When you break that down into categories, a safe split for a crowd that enjoys a variety is usually: * Wine: 40% (approx. 100 drinks) * Beer: 40% (approx. 100 drinks) * Spirits/Cocktails: 20% (approx. 50 drinks) ## Breaking Down the Numbers If you are shopping for these amounts, here is how you translate that into store-bought quantities: * Wine: 100 glasses / 5 glasses per bottle = 20 bottles (about 1.5 cases). * Beer: 100 bottles or cans. We recommend a mix of a crisp lager, an IPA, and maybe a seasonal sour or cider to keep things interesting. * Spirits: 50 cocktails requires about 3 liters of base spirits (like vodka, gin, or tequila) if you are serving standard 1.5-ounce pours. ## Pro-Tips for Your Shopping List * Don't Forget the Non-Alcoholic Options: Always account for your designated drivers and guests who prefer spirit-free options. Keep plenty of high-quality tonic, club soda, and juice on hand. * Consider Your Crowd: Are your friends heavy beer drinkers, or are they all about the craft cocktails? Adjust your percentages based on the specific vibe of your guest list. * The Dry-Hire Advantage: Because Shake & Gather operates as a dry-hire service, you have complete control over the quality of the brands you purchase. We provide a custom, detailed shopping list tailored to your guest count, so you’ll never have to guess at the register. ## Let Us Handle the Pouring Once you have your shopping list sorted, the last thing you want to do is spend your whole party standing behind a folding table. Whether you need a full-service Craft package or just a bartender to manage the bar, Shake & Gather is here to help. As an LGBTQ+-owned, BASSET-certified team serving Chicago, Evanston, Skokie, Oak Park, and beyond, we bring the expertise and the energy to make your event unforgettable. Ready to start planning your perfect menu? Inquire with Shake & Gather today, and let us handle the logistics while you enjoy the party!