How Much Alcohol for 50 / 75 / 150 Guests? A Quick Wedding Drinks Guide
One of the most common wedding planning questions is also one of the most stressful:
“How much alcohol do we actually need?”
Buy too little and you risk running out. Buy too much and you’ve wasted hundreds of pounds. This guide gives you clear, realistic alcohol quantities for weddings with 50, 75, and 150 guests, based on real-world event planning—not guesswork.
Whether you’re organising a DIY wedding, hiring a mobile bar, or using a Bar in a Box wedding setup, this guide will help you plan confidently.
Before We Start: 3 Things That Affect Alcohol Quantities
Every wedding is different. Before using the numbers below, consider:
- Guest mix: heavy drinkers vs light drinkers
- Event length: drinks reception only vs all-day event
- Bar style: full bar, limited menu, or reception-only drinks
The quantities below assume:
- UK wedding
- 5–6 hours of drinking
- Beer, wine, prosecco + spirits
- No shots-heavy crowd
How Much Alcohol for 50 Wedding Guests?
This is typical for smaller weddings, barn venues, or intimate celebrations.
- Prosecco / Champagne: 10–12 bottles
- White wine: 15 bottles
- Red wine: 10 bottles
- Beer: 80–100 bottles/cans
- Spirits: 4–5 bottles total
- Mixers: Approx. 25–30 litres
Tip: For 50 guests, a limited bar menu (beer, wine, prosecco + 2 spirits) keeps costs down and speeds up service.
How Much Alcohol for 75 Wedding Guests?
This is one of the most common wedding sizes and where planning mistakes often happen.
- Prosecco / Champagne: 15–18 bottles
- White wine: 22 bottles
- Red wine: 15 bottles
- Beer: 130–160 bottles/cans
- Spirits: 6–7 bottles total
- Mixers: Approx. 40 litres
This guest count works perfectly with a Bar in a Box wedding package or a staffed mobile bar with a curated drinks list.
How Much Alcohol for 150 Wedding Guests?
For larger weddings, speed and simplicity matter just as much as quantities.
- Prosecco / Champagne: 30–35 bottles
- White wine: 40 bottles
- Red wine: 30 bottles
- Beer: 300–350 bottles/cans
- Spirits: 10–12 bottles total
- Mixers: 70–80 litres
Important: At this size, poor bar planning causes queues. A staffed mobile bar or hybrid setup is strongly recommended.
How Many Drinks Per Person Is Normal?
As a rough UK wedding guide:
- 2 drinks during the reception
- 2–3 drinks during the evening
- Total: 4–5 drinks per guest
Not everyone drinks alcohol, so having soft drinks and mocktail options helps balance consumption.
How to Reduce Alcohol Costs (Without Guests Noticing)
These are proven ways to cut costs without hurting the experience:
- Offer one signature cocktail instead of a full cocktail menu
- Limit spirits to 4 core options
- Choose house wine instead of branded bottles
- Do a hosted bar for the first 2–3 hours, then switch to pay bar
Most guests won’t notice fewer choices—but they will notice long queues.
DIY Wedding vs Hiring a Bar
Many couples start with a DIY plan, then realise:
- They still need glassware
- They still need ice
- They still need setup & pack-down
- They still need someone to manage it
That’s why options like a Bar in a Box wedding setup or a fully staffed bar often end up being simpler—and sometimes cheaper overall.
Need Help Calculating Your Wedding Drinks?
If you’d like a personalised drinks plan based on your guest numbers, venue, and budget, VIVA Bar Hire & Events can help.
Get in touch:
- Website: https://vivabarhire.co.uk
- Email: info@vivabarhire.co.uk
- WhatsApp: 07495 617107
Send us your guest count, venue, and wedding date and we’ll recommend the right setup—whether that’s a staffed bar, drinks reception, or Bar in a Box.