How much beer do I need for 50 guests?

You need 3 cases of beer for 50 guests at a wedding shower. This provides 45 total servings with a 15% buffer to ensure you don't run out.

How much beer per person for a wedding shower?

Plan for 0.9 servings of beer per person at a wedding shower. 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 50 guests, you'll need 3 cases to provide 45 total servings.

What percentage of guests will drink beer at a wedding shower?

At a wedding shower with 50 guests, approximately 38 guests (76%) will actively drink. Our formula accounts for this when calculating the 3 cases you need.

Should I buy extra beer as a buffer?

Yes! Our calculation of 3 cases already includes a 15% buffer (1 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 3 cases of beer last for 50 guests?

3 cases of beer will last approximately 3 hours for 50 guests at a wedding shower. This calculation factors in the natural slowdown of consumption as the event progresses.

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🍷 Wine 🍺 Beer viewing 🥂 Champagne 🥃 Spirits

How Much Beer for a 50 Guest Wedding Shower?

🍺

cases of beer

For a 50-guest wedding shower lasting 3 hours

15% buffer included

Total servings

0.9

Per person

Buffer cases

How We Calculated This

Our bartender-tested formula, step by step

Estimate actual drinkers

50 guests × 75% drinking rate

= 38 drinkers

At medium events, about 75% of guests typically drink alcohol.

Calculate base consumption

38 drinkers × 1.5 drinks/hour × 3 hours

= 171 base drinks

Industry standard is 1.5 drinks per person per hour for a 3-hour event.

Apply consumption decay

Adjusted for drinking slowdown over time (decay factor: 2.65)

= 151 adjusted drinks

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

Apply wedding shower modifier

× 0.3 (-70% for beer)

= 45 beer servings needed

Wedding Showers typically consume 70% less beer than average.

Convert to cases

45 servings ÷ 24 servings per case

= 1.9 cases (raw)

Each case of beer provides 24 servings.

Add 15% buffer & round up

1.9 × 1.15 = 2.2, rounded up

= 3 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	2 cases	23 servings
50 guests (you)	3 cases	45 servings
75 guests	5 cases	68 servings
100 guests	6 cases	90 servings
150 guests	9 cases	135 servings
200 guests	12 cases	180 servings

* All calculations include a 15% buffer. Amounts for wedding shower.

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!)

36 lbs
Coolers (2 cases per cooler)

2 coolers
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Pro Tips for Your Wedding Shower

Insider advice from experienced bartenders

💡

Mimosa bars are the gold standard. Stock 1 bottle of sparkling per 3 guests, plus orange juice and peach nectar for variety.

⏰

Skip heavy reds. Go 70% white/rosé (Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc) and 30% light red (Pinot Noir).

🎯

Create one signature cocktail (Aperol Spritz, French 75) and batch it ahead of time - plan 2 servings per guest.

🧊

25-30% of guests won't drink alcohol. Offer elegant non-alcoholic options like mocktails or flavored sparkling water.

✨

Afternoon timing means lower consumption - most guests have 1-2 drinks max.

🛒 Buying Guide

For a 2-3 hour afternoon shower, plan for 1.3 drinks per guest. Champagne and wine dominate - stock 1 bottle of sparkling per 3 guests for mimosas, plus 1 wine bottle per 2 drinking guests. Buy 10-15% extra; unopened bottles can be returned or saved for the wedding. Prosecco is cost-effective for mimosas; save real Champagne for the toast.

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