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How Much Liquor for a Party?

For a full bar serving 100 guests, spirits typically run between 1 and 14 bottles depending on the event: a wedding shower needs as little as 1 bottle, a corporate event about 3, a wedding about 6, a birthday party about 8, and a Halloween party as many as 14. That figure already builds in a 15 percent buffer, and it covers only spirits' share of a full bar poured alongside wine, beer, and champagne. A party serving spirits as the only alcohol needs far more, from 10 bottles at a wedding shower up to 32 at a New Year's Eve party.

A full bar's spirits count is usually in the low single digits, which covers the volume but not the variety. Even a small number of bottles should still include at least one each of vodka, gin, whiskey, rum, and tequila, since guests reach for a liquor by name rather than a pour of whatever happens to be open. The table below gives the exact bottle count for your event and guest count.

Spirits on a full bar, by event and guest count
Event 25 guests50 guests75 guests100 guests150 guests200 guests
Wedding 2 bottles 3 bottles 5 bottles 6 bottles 9 bottles 11 bottles
Graduation Party 2 bottles 3 bottles 4 bottles 5 bottles 7 bottles 8 bottles
Corporate Event 1 bottle 2 bottles 3 bottles 3 bottles 5 bottles 6 bottles
Birthday Party 3 bottles 4 bottles 6 bottles 8 bottles 11 bottles 14 bottles
Super Bowl Party 2 bottles 3 bottles 4 bottles 5 bottles 7 bottles 9 bottles
Holiday Party 3 bottles 5 bottles 8 bottles 10 bottles 14 bottles 18 bottles
Wedding Shower 1 bottle 1 bottle 1 bottle 1 bottle 2 bottles 2 bottles
March Madness Party 2 bottles 3 bottles 5 bottles 6 bottles 8 bottles 10 bottles
4th of July Party 3 bottles 5 bottles 7 bottles 9 bottles 13 bottles 16 bottles
Labor Day Party 3 bottles 5 bottles 7 bottles 9 bottles 13 bottles 16 bottles
Halloween Party 4 bottles 8 bottles 11 bottles 14 bottles 20 bottles 25 bottles
Thanksgiving 2 bottles 3 bottles 5 bottles 6 bottles 9 bottles 11 bottles
New Year's Eve Party 2 bottles 4 bottles 6 bottles 7 bottles 11 bottles 13 bottles

Every figure is that drink's share of a full bar, with a 15 percent buffer included. Each page also shows what you would need if it were the only alcohol served.

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Every number here comes from the same model, explained in full on the methodology page.