How much spirits do I need for 40 guests?

You need 12 bottles of spirits for 40 guests at a wedding. This provides 169 total servings with a 15% buffer to ensure you don't run out.

How much spirits per person for a wedding?

Plan for 4.2 servings of spirits per person at a wedding. 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 40 guests, you'll need 12 bottles to provide 169 total servings.

What percentage of guests will drink spirits at a wedding?

At a wedding with 40 guests, approximately 30 guests (75%) will actively drink. Our formula accounts for this when calculating the 12 bottles you need.

Should I buy extra spirits as a buffer?

Yes! Our calculation of 12 bottles already includes a 15% buffer (2 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 12 bottles of spirits last for 40 guests?

12 bottles of spirits will last approximately 5 hours for 40 guests at a wedding. This calculation factors in the natural slowdown of consumption as the event progresses.

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🍷 Wine 🍺 Beer 🥂 Champagne 🥃 Spirits viewing

How Much Spirits for a 40 Guest Wedding?

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bottles of spirits

For a 40-guest wedding lasting 5 hours

15% buffer included

169

Total servings

4.2

Per person

Buffer bottles

How We Calculated This

Our bartender-tested formula, step by step

Estimate actual drinkers

40 guests × 75% drinking rate

= 30 drinkers

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

Calculate base consumption

30 drinkers × 1.5 drinks/hour × 5 hours

= 225 base drinks

Industry standard is 1.5 drinks per person per hour for a 5-hour event.

Apply consumption decay

Adjusted for drinking slowdown over time (decay factor: 3.75)

= 169 adjusted drinks

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

Apply wedding modifier

× 1 (0% for spirits)

= 169 spirits servings needed

Weddings have standard spirits consumption.

Convert to bottles

169 servings ÷ 17 servings per bottle

= 9.9 bottles (raw)

Each bottle of spirits provides 17 servings.

Add 15% buffer & round up

9.9 × 1.15 = 11.4, rounded up

= 12 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	8 bottles	106 servings
50 guests	15 bottles	211 servings
75 guests	23 bottles	317 servings
100 guests	30 bottles	423 servings
150 guests	45 bottles	634 servings
200 guests	60 bottles	845 servings

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

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)

57 liters
Ice (~2 lbs per person)

60 lbs
Cocktail glasses (2 per drinker)

60 glasses
Buy
Garnishes (limes, lemons)

22 pieces

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Pro Tips for Your Wedding

Insider advice from experienced bartenders

💡

40% of all alcohol is consumed during cocktail hour - front-load your bar staff and ice.

⏰

Offer 1-2 signature cocktails instead of a full bar to cut spirit costs by 40% and speed up service.

🎯

Pre-pour wine at dinner tables 5 minutes before guests sit to prevent service bottlenecks.

🧊

Order 10-15% extra and ask vendors about their return policy on unopened bottles.

✨

If dancing goes past 10pm, reopen a simplified bar: beer, wine, and 2 signature drinks only.

🛒 Buying Guide

For weddings, plan a 60/40 split between red and white wine for fall/winter, or flip it for spring/summer. Budget $12-18 per bottle for a crowd-pleasing selection - guests can't tell the difference between $15 and $40 wine at a party. Consider having champagne for toasts separate from your open bar calculation.

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