How much alcohol do I need for a 20 guest New Year's Eve party?

For a 20-guest New Year's Eve party, you need 5 bottles of wine, 1 cases of beer, 15 bottles of champagne, 2 bottles of spirits, about 131 total servings (6.6 drinks per person) with a 15% buffer included.

What is the drink breakdown for a New Year's Eve party bar?

A balanced bar for a New Year's Eve party typically includes: Wine (16%), Beer (7%), Champagne (60%), Spirits (18%). These proportions are adjusted based on event type. New Year's Eve parties tend to favor champagne.

New Year's Eve Party Alcohol Calculator: 20 Guests

Your Complete Bar 20 guests · 5 hours

Wine	5bottles	21 servings

Beer	1cases	9 servings
For a proper beer selection, that is at least one case each of a light lager and an ale or IPA.
Champagne	15bottles	78 servings

Spirits	2bottles	23 servings
For a proper spirits selection, that is at least one bottle each of vodka, gin, whiskey, rum, and tequila.
Batching cocktails ahead of time keeps the bar moving: Freezer Batch Cocktails has make-ahead recipes that go straight from the freezer to the glass.

131 servings, about 6.6 drinks per person

15% buffer included on each category.

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Shopping list

What to put in the cart

5bottles Wine

1cases Beer

15bottles Champagne

2bottles Spirits

Things to have on hand

Wine Glasses, Plastic

Two per drinker covers a refill without a trip to the sink.

Wine Opener

A backup means one stuck cork does not stall the bar.

Rolling Beverage Cooler

Wheels it where the crowd is instead of the crowd finding it.

Champagne Flutes, Plastic

One per guest for the toast, no washing up after.

Cocktail Shaker Set

Everything needed to mix drinks to order, not just pour them.

Bartender Kit

Jigger, muddler, and strainer in one set covers most cocktails.

Ice Bucket

Keeps a bottle at the ready without a trip back to the cooler.

Party Cups

The default cup for beer, soda, and everything in between.

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More detail

Each drink, shown with its work

Every drink page prints the arithmetic and a printable list.

Wine 5 bottles Beer 1 cases Champagne 15 bottles Spirits 2 bottles

Planning notes

Planning notes for a New Year's Eve party

Champagne goes almost entirely in the window around midnight, so time your chilling for the countdown.
Have champagne COLD and ready to pour at 11:55pm.
People pace themselves until 10pm then drinking accelerates.

This is THE champagne event. The champagne page gives a separate toast figure, one flute per guest, on top of what the bar needs for cocktails like a French 75 or Kir Royale. Have regular bar options for earlier in the evening. Stock more than you think - better to have leftovers than run out at midnight.