BEVERAGE CALCULATOR
Probably one of the most frequently asked questions 'how much do I budget for drinks?'
If you don't want an open 'cash' bar where you guests pay for their own drinks, our online drinks calculator will give you good guide to help setting a bar TAB
Step One: Enter Your Guest Count​
Life happens—plans change, people get sick, and some just don’t show up. On average, most events see a 5-10% drop-off on the day. Some guests might arrive late or leave early, too.
When finalizing your guest list, consider trimming the number slightly based on the type of event. Weddings and engagement parties tend to have a lower drop-off rate due to their significance, while other events may see a higher fluctuation.
Step Two: Enter Your Event Duration
Most events at VYC run for 5.5 hours, though some hosts extend by 30–60 minutes. Dinner events tend to be shorter, typically around 4.5 hours. While some guests may arrive late or leave early, the calculator factors this in—just enter the full duration from guest arrival to departure.
Step Three: Estimate Drinks Per Guest, Per Hour
This is just an estimate, but having hosted hundreds of events under our belt, we’ve got some solid guidelines to help you make an informed guess.
The standard event planning rule is 1.25 drinks per person per hour, though we’re now seeing averages between 1 - 1.2 drinks. We track alcohol consumption at every event, and you can check out our full data table for reference.
A few key trends:
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Age matters – A 50th birthday tends to drink more than a 21st.
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Event type plays a role – Corporate weekday events and sit-down dinners see lower consumption than canapé-style gatherings.
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Demographics make a difference – Men often drink more than women, and cultural or religious backgrounds may mean some guests don’t drink at all.
Average number of drinks per guest per hour
Lowest Record To Date 0.46
Light Drinkers 0.6 - 0.89
Medium Drinkers 0.9 - 1.25
High Frivolity 1.26 - 1.6
Highest Record To Date 2.84
Step Four
Calculate the Average Cost per Drink
The cost of a drink varies. A bottle of beer at $11 v's a cocktail at $22. Not knowing what your guests will choose on the day, we need to multiply the estimated number of drinks for your event by the average cost of a drink.
For us to calculate the avg. cost per drink, insert a 1 into each type of drink you want included on your bar TAB, and a O for the drinks you want to exclude. We prepare a custom menu for each event, so your guests know what is on offer. ​​​​
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Enter 1 to include and a 0 to exclude on the TAB