How much spirits do I need for 20 guests?

You need 7 bottles of spirits for 20 guests at a holiday party. This provides 90 total servings with a 15% buffer to ensure you don't run out.

How much spirits per person for a holiday party?

Plan for 4.5 servings of spirits per person at a holiday party. This accounts for the fact that not everyone drinks alcohol and consumption naturally slows as the event progresses.

How many servings are in a bottle of spirits?

One bottle of spirits contains 17 servings. For 20 guests, you'll need 7 bottles to provide 90 total servings.

What percentage of guests will drink spirits at a holiday party?

At a holiday party with 20 guests, approximately 16 guests (80%) will actively drink. Our formula accounts for this when calculating the 7 bottles you need.

Should I buy extra spirits as a buffer?

Yes! Our calculation of 7 bottles already includes a 15% buffer (1 extra bottles). 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 7 bottles of spirits last for 20 guests?

7 bottles of spirits will last approximately 4 hours for 20 guests at a holiday party. This calculation factors in the natural slowdown of consumption as the event progresses.

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How Much Spirits for a 20 Guest Holiday Party?

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bottles of spirits

For a 20-guest holiday party lasting 4 hours

15% buffer included

Total servings

4.5

Per person

Buffer bottles

How We Calculated This

Our bartender-tested formula, step by step

Estimate actual drinkers

20 guests × 80% drinking rate

= 16 drinkers

At small events, about 80% of guests typically drink alcohol.

Calculate base consumption

16 drinkers × 1.5 drinks/hour × 4 hours

= 96 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)

= 78 adjusted drinks

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

Apply holiday party modifier

× 1.15 (+15% for spirits)

= 90 spirits servings needed

Holiday Partys typically consume 15% more spirits than average.

Convert to bottles

90 servings ÷ 17 servings per bottle

= 5.3 bottles (raw)

Each bottle of spirits provides 17 servings.

Add 15% buffer & round up

5.3 × 1.15 = 6.1, rounded up

= 7 bottles

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: Spirits by Guest Count

Guests	Spirits Needed	Total Servings
25 guests	9 bottles	113 servings
50 guests	18 bottles	225 servings
75 guests	27 bottles	338 servings
100 guests	35 bottles	450 servings
150 guests	53 bottles	675 servings
200 guests	70 bottles	900 servings

* All calculations include a 15% buffer. Amounts for holiday party.

Your Shopping List

Everything you need, plus essentials you might forget

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Spirits

The main event

bottles

Don't forget these

Mixers (soda, tonic, juice) (Variety is key)

30 liters
Ice (~2 lbs per person)

32 lbs
Cocktail glasses (2 per drinker)

32 glasses
Buy
Garnishes (limes, lemons)

12 pieces

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Pro Tips for Your Holiday Party

Insider advice from experienced bartenders

💡

Red wine outsells white 2:1 at winter holidays - adjust accordingly.

⏰

Festive signature cocktails are expected - plan for mixers like cranberry juice and eggnog.

🎯

70% of champagne at NYE is consumed between 11:30pm and 12:15am - time your chilling.

🧊

Warm drinks like mulled wine and hot toddies are crowd pleasers in cold months.

✨

People drink 20% more at company holiday parties than other corporate events.

🛒 Buying Guide

Holiday parties call for festive options. Stock extra red wine and have ingredients for 1-2 seasonal cocktails (mulled wine, spiked cider, or classic eggnog). For NYE specifically, double your champagne order and have everything chilled by 11pm.

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