Party Beer per Person

Beer per Guest at a Party

For a 4-hour party, a fair estimate is 4 to 6 cans (350 ml) or 2 to 3 bottles (600 ml) per adult. Long necks (355 ml) tend to run 3 to 4 per person. A 50 L draft keg gives you around 100 cups of 500 ml.

Tweak the number for who's coming. Women tend to drink about 30% less beer than men, and hot weather can bump consumption up another 10–20%. A mix that works well is 70% pilsen/lager, 20% IPA or Weiss, and 10% non-alcoholic or low-alcohol, which takes care of the designated drivers and the lighter drinkers.

Applications

Handy when you're planning a wedding, a birthday, a BBQ, a corporate happy hour, a festival or a pop-up bar. Take the per-guest figure, multiply by your headcount, throw in a 10–15% safety margin, and then translate that into whichever packaging costs least (kegs come in below bottles, bottles below cans).

FAQ

How many cans per person for a 4-hour party? Count on 4 to 6 cans of 350 ml per adult, and add 1–2 cans for each extra hour the party runs.

Is a 50 L keg enough for 50 people? Yes. It pours roughly 100 cups of 500 ml, which is two drinks each. If the event runs long, keep some bottles on hand as backup.

How do I avoid leftovers or shortages? Ask people their drink preference when they RSVP, pad the order by 10–15% to be safe, and check whether your supplier takes back unopened bottles and cans.