How to Use the Group Drink Order Calculator
Ordering too little alcohol for a group event leaves the party feeling short, while ordering too much means paying for drinks that go to waste. This calculator takes the number of people drinking and their average tolerance (light, average, or heavy) and calculates a recommended number of liquor and beer bottles to order.
For an average tolerance, about one 12 oz liquor bottle and one 12 oz beer per person is a common baseline. Light-drinking groups are calculated at 0.3 liquor bottles and 0.5 beers per person, while heavy-drinking groups use 0.8 liquor bottles and 1.5 beers per person, so you can adjust to match your crowd.
Keep in mind this calculator assumes everyone counted is actually drinking. If some attendees don't drink, entering only the number of actual drinkers gives a more accurate estimate. Actual consumption can also run higher with more food and a longer event, so use this as a reference starting point rather than an exact order.
Frequently Asked Questions
For an average drinker, about 1 shot-bottle equivalent of liquor (12 oz) and 1 bottle of beer (12 oz) per person is a common baseline. Lighter-drinking groups need less, heavier groups need more.
Light drinkers are calculated at about 0.3 liquor bottles and 0.5 beers per person, while heavy drinkers use about 0.8 liquor bottles and 1.5 beers per person. Actual results can vary a lot by group.
This calculator assumes everyone entered is drinking. If some attendees don't drink, enter only the number of people who actually will for a more accurate estimate.