Buying booze: easy drink calculations

Figuring out how much food and drink to buy for a party is part art and part science. For the science bit, check out the industry standards below:

At a regular party (we're not talking frat parties and keggers, here), assume that your guests will have two drinks during your party's first hour and then a drink per person per hour.

If, for instance, you're expecting 20 guests at a four-hour party, you'll need about 100 servings of alcohol. Here's the breakdown:

• 20 guests x 2 drinks (for the first hour) = 40 drinks
• 20 guests x 1 drink (for each hour following the first) x 3 hours (party's remaining time)= 60 drinks
• Total drinks = 100
  

And what's even easier than doing the math yourself? Typing the number of guests you expect and the length of the party into a handy drink calculator like this one from Evite or That's The Spirit! This is the 15-Minute Party Planner, after all; we don't want anything to take longer than it has to.

Once you've got the booze figured out, you'll also want to ensure that you have enough food to keep people from getting too buzzed. Click the links to ensure responsible drinking and minimize drunken guests at your next party and for tips on stocking the perfect home bar.