How to Buy Alcohol for a Party

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Alcohol can be the most expensive party supply item. Follow these guidelines so you won't run out or spend more than necessary.

Step 1:
Decide what kind of party you'll be throwing. You'll need less alcohol for a lunch party than for a cocktail or dinner party.

Warning
Don't drink unless you're of legal age. Drink responsibly, and never drink and drive.

Step 2:
Make a guest list. Who and how many you invite will determine what types of alcohol and how much to buy.

Step 3:
Decide how much alcohol to serve. As a rule of thumb, allow two drinks per guest for the first hour of your party, and one drink per guest for each additional hour.

Tip
Most people will have two or three drinks at a party in the evening. If you allow four drinks per guest, you should have more than enough.

Step 4:
Plan to buy a combination of beer, wine, and liquor. Provide a variety of liquors, such as scotch, vodka, and gin, plus the appropriate mixers.

Tip
A guideline for a large party is 50 percent beer, 25 percent wine, and 25 percent liquor.

Step 5:
Figure out how many servings you'll get from each bottle of wine, champagne, or liquor you buy. If you buy beer in a keg, you'll need to know how many servings that holds, too.

Step 6:
Adjust these ratios for your guests. For example, if many of your friends prefer wine, you'll want to buy more wine and less beer or liquor.

Tip
Allow for 12 ounces per serving for beer, 5 ounces for wine, 4 ounces for champagne, and 1½ ounces for liquor.

Step 7:
Consider hiring a bartender for a very large party. Ask them to order the supplies and help ensure that no one drinks too much.

Did You Know?
Did you know? The most expensive party ever thrown was in November 2008, at a cost of $35 million, to celebrate the opening of the new Atlantis resort in Dubai.