How much beer do I need for 125 guests?

You need 17 cases of beer for 125 guests at a thanksgiving. This provides 341 total servings with a 15% buffer to ensure you don't run out.

How much beer per person for a thanksgiving?

Plan for 2.7 servings of beer per person at a thanksgiving. This accounts for the fact that not everyone drinks alcohol and consumption naturally slows as the event progresses.

How many servings are in a case of beer?

One case of beer contains 24 servings. For 125 guests, you'll need 17 cases to provide 341 total servings.

What percentage of guests will drink beer at a thanksgiving?

At a thanksgiving with 125 guests, approximately 88 guests (70%) will actively drink. Our formula accounts for this when calculating the 17 cases you need.

Should I buy extra beer as a buffer?

Yes! Our calculation of 17 cases already includes a 15% buffer (2 extra cases). This ensures you won't run out even if some guests drink more than average. It's always better to have leftovers than to run short.

How long will 17 cases of beer last for 125 guests?

17 cases of beer will last approximately 4 hours for 125 guests at a thanksgiving. This calculation factors in the natural slowdown of consumption as the event progresses.

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How Much Beer for a 125 Guest Thanksgiving?

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cases of beer

For a 125-guest thanksgiving lasting 4 hours

15% buffer included

341

Total servings

2.7

Per person

Buffer cases

How We Calculated This

Our bartender-tested formula, step by step

Estimate actual drinkers

125 guests × 70% drinking rate

= 88 drinkers

At large events, about 70% of guests typically drink alcohol.

Calculate base consumption

88 drinkers × 1.5 drinks/hour × 4 hours

= 528 base drinks

Industry standard is 1.5 drinks per person per hour for a 4-hour event.

Apply consumption decay

Adjusted for drinking slowdown over time (decay factor: 3.25)

= 429 adjusted drinks

People drink faster in the first hour and slow down as the event progresses.

Apply thanksgiving modifier

× 0.8 (-20% for beer)

= 341 beer servings needed

Thanksgivings typically consume 20% less beer than average.

Convert to cases

341 servings ÷ 24 servings per case

= 14.2 cases (raw)

Each case of beer provides 24 servings.

Add 15% buffer & round up

14.2 × 1.15 = 16.3, rounded up

= 17 cases

Always round up and add a buffer. Running out is worse than having leftovers!

* Why trust this formula?

Based on industry standards and refined by bartenders with 30+ years of experience. We factor in consumption decay (people drink less as events progress) and real-world drinking percentages.

📊 Quick Reference: Beer by Guest Count

Guests	Beer Needed	Total Servings
25 guests	4 cases	68 servings
50 guests	7 cases	136 servings
75 guests	11 cases	205 servings
100 guests	14 cases	273 servings
150 guests	21 cases	409 servings
200 guests	28 cases	546 servings

* All calculations include a 15% buffer. Amounts for thanksgiving.

Your Shopping List

Everything you need, plus essentials you might forget

🍺

Beer

The main event

cases

Don't forget these

Ice (Keep those beers cold!)

204 lbs
Coolers (2 cases per cooler)

9 coolers
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Pro Tips for Your Thanksgiving

Insider advice from experienced bartenders

💡

Wine consumption peaks during dinner - have bottles ready at the table.

⏰

Pre-dinner cocktails should be light so people can enjoy the meal.

🎯

After-dinner drinks (port, brandy) are a nice touch.

🧊

Football watching = beer in the afternoon before dinner.

✨

Designated drivers are essential - plan non-alcoholic options.

🛒 Buying Guide

Thanksgiving is wine-heavy with the meal. Plan 1 bottle of wine per 2 adults at the table. Have a light cocktail option for pre-dinner and maybe some beer for football watching. Keep it classy.

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