How Much Alcohol for a Wedding or Party? Per-Guest Math for 50, 100 and 150 Guests
Whether it's a wedding in St. Albert, a staff Christmas party or a New Year's Eve open house, one question comes up every time: how much alcohol for a wedding or party do you actually need? Buy too little and the bar runs dry before the first dance. Buy too much and you're storing cases until spring. The good news is that the math is simple, and below you'll find ready-made tables for 50, 100 and 150 guests that you can adjust for your crowd.
The basic rule: one drink per guest per hour
Most planners start with about one drink per guest for every hour the bar is open. A four-hour reception works out to roughly four drinks per guest on average. Some guests won't drink at all, some will have a glass of wine with dinner and stop, and a few will have more. Planning on the average covers everyone without going overboard.
Adjust from there:
- Shorter event or a lunchtime crowd: plan a bit less.
- Long evening with dancing: keep the rule, but don't stretch the bar to the end of the night. Closing the bar before the party ends is a good habit anyway.
- Lots of non-drinkers, drivers or younger adults: count only the guests who are likely to drink.
What counts as one drink
To make the math work, everything is counted in standard drinks. In Canada, one standard drink is 341 ml (12 oz) of 5% beer, 142 ml (5 oz) of 12% wine, or 43 ml (1.5 oz) of 40% spirits, according to Canada's Guidance on Alcohol and Health. In practice:
| Container | About how many drinks |
|---|---|
| 355 ml can or bottle of 5% beer | 1 |
| Case of 24 beers | 24 |
| 750 ml bottle of wine | 5 glasses |
| 750 ml bottle of sparkling wine (toast pours) | 6 flutes |
| 750 ml bottle of spirits | about 17 pours of 1.5 oz |
| 1.75 L bottle of spirits | about 40 pours of 1.5 oz |
How much alcohol for a wedding: 50, 100 and 150 guests
The tables below assume a four-hour bar and a mixed crowd, split 40% beer, 40% wine and 20% spirits. That's four drinks per guest: 200 servings for 50 guests, 400 for 100, and 600 for 150. Numbers are rounded up to whole cases and bottles.
| Guests | Beer | Wine (750 ml) | Spirits (750 ml) | Toast sparkling (750 ml) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 80 (about 3½ cases of 24) | 16 bottles | 3 bottles | 9 bottles |
| 100 | 160 (about 7 cases of 24) | 32 bottles | 5 bottles | 17 bottles |
| 150 | 240 (10 cases of 24) | 48 bottles | 8 bottles | 25 bottles |
The toast column assumes one flute per guest. Skip it if you're toasting with whatever people are already drinking.
Splitting the wine
For the wine, start with half red and half white, then adjust:
- Summer wedding or a patio: lean towards white, rosé and sparkling (60/40).
- Winter, or a hearty dinner menu: lean towards red (60/40).
- Not sure? Pick versatile, crowd-pleasing styles: a fruity, medium-bodied red and a crisp, dry white. Our guide to wine for turkey and ham explains which styles suit a big dinner.
Changing the mix for your crowd
Every crowd is different. If your friends are mostly beer drinkers, shift to something like 60% beer, 25% wine, 15% spirits. For a cocktail-style party, try 30% beer, 30% wine, 40% spirits. The total number of drinks stays the same; you're just moving servings between columns.
Don't forget mixers, ice and alcohol-free drinks
The bar is more than bottles:
- Mixers: plan about 4 oz (120 ml) of mixer for every spirit pour. That's roughly 5 L for 50 guests, 10 L for 100 and 15 L for 150, split between soda, tonic, ginger ale and juice.
- Ice: a common rule is about 1 lb (half a kilo) per guest for drinks, more in summer or if you're also chilling bottles in tubs.
- Alcohol-free options: plan at least one or two alcohol-free drinks per guest, plus plenty of water. Drivers, kids and anyone pacing themselves will thank you.
- Cups, openers and a few bar towels.
A planning timeline
Three to four weeks out
- Confirm your guest count and bar hours.
- Check whether your venue serves under its own liquor licence. If it doesn't, Alberta generally requires a private special event licence to provide liquor at a private event such as a wedding, reunion or private party at a hall. AGLC recommends applying at least 14 days before the event. See AGLC's private special event licence page.
One to two weeks out
- Run the numbers with the tables above.
- Come by City Liquor on St Albert Trail with your guest count and a rough idea of what your crowd drinks. Our staff are happy to help you work through styles and quantities.
The day before
- Pick up and get everything cold. Allow time for beer and white wine to chill.
- In an Alberta winter, don't leave beer or wine in the car or an unheated garage overnight. It can freeze and burst.
On the day
- Put someone sober in charge of the bar.
- Set out water and alcohol-free drinks next to everything else.
Hosting responsibly
Whoever holds the event licence is responsible for how liquor is served. Even at a party at home, the same common sense applies:
- Never serve anyone under 18, and don't let adults pass drinks to minors.
- Don't serve anyone who's intoxicated. Licensed events in Alberta can't, and at a house party it's simply the right call.
- Serve food throughout the evening, and set a last call before the end of the night.
- Plan rides home before the party starts: designated drivers, taxis or rideshare, or space for guests to stay over. Alberta's roadside sanctions start at a blood alcohol level of just 0.05. Our guide to Alberta liquor laws has the details.
Christmas parties and New Year's Eve
The same math works for holiday parties. A three-hour office party for 30 works out to about 90 drinks. For New Year's Eve, count the hours from the time guests arrive, then add one flute of sparkling per guest for midnight: a 750 ml bottle pours about six. We're open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, so there's time for a last-minute top-up. Check our Google listing for holiday hours.
Bring us your guest count
The tables above will get you very close. For the fine-tuning, like which styles to pick, how to split red and white, or what to add for a beer-loving crowd, visit City Liquor at 260-525 St Albert Trail, or call (825) 223-8787. Whether you're planning a reception in St. Albert, a farm wedding out in Sturgeon County or a holiday party in Erin Ridge, we're happy to help you work out how much alcohol for a wedding or party makes sense for your crowd.
FAQ
How many drinks per guest should I plan for a wedding?
A common planning rule is about one drink per guest for each hour the bar is open. For a four-hour reception that's about four drinks per guest on average. Some guests will have less and some none, so it balances out.
How many glasses of wine are in a bottle?
A standard 750 ml bottle pours about five 5-oz (142 ml) glasses. For a toast with smaller pours, plan about six flutes per bottle of sparkling wine.
How much alcohol do I need for 100 wedding guests?
For a four-hour reception with a mixed crowd, plan roughly 160 beers (about 7 cases of 24), 32 bottles of wine and 5 bottles (750 ml) of spirits, plus about 17 bottles of sparkling wine if everyone gets a toast.
Do I need a liquor licence for my wedding in Alberta?
If you're serving alcohol at a private event outside your home, such as a hall, Alberta generally requires a private special event licence unless the venue serves under its own licence. AGLC recommends applying at least 14 days ahead.
Please enjoy responsibly. You must be 18+ to buy alcohol in Alberta, and if you're drinking, plan a safe ride home.
