How party drink calculator Works
The drink curve
2 drinks in the first hour, 1 per hour after — the standard hosting figure. Ten guests at four hours: 50 drinks. The split: 50% wine (5 glasses per bottle), 25% beer, 25% spirits — adjust to your crowd (beer-heavy BBQs, wine-heavy dinners), but keep a split; buying all of one thing is the classic error.
The conversion table
- Wine: 750 ml bottle = 5 glasses; boxes run 20 glasses and survive the party length.
- Beer: cans/bottles straight count.
- Spirits: 750 ml = 16 cocktails at 1.5 oz.
- Mixers: 1 liter of tonic/soda per 3 spirit drinks; citrus at 1 piece per 2 drinks.
The non-alcoholic parity
Plan 2 NA drinks per non-drinking guest — and make them good (sparkling water with citrus, a mocktail pitcher, fancy soda). The designated drivers and dry guests are hosting's most appreciative audience when the NA options are real. Ice, cups, and the responsible-service fundamentals (food, water, rides) ride along in the calculator's notes.