Round up, not down
It is better to have two extra bottles than to run out during the second hour. If the planner says 13 cans, buy 15. Leftover sealed drinks keep for the next event.
Stop guessing how many drinks to buy
PourPlan estimates beer, wine, soda, and mixers for your gathering based on guest count, event type, and season. Get a printable shopping list in seconds.
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Saved Plans
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Tips, Mistakes, and What to Watch For
Ice is half the battle
Most hosts forget ice until the last minute. Plan for at least 1 pound per guest. In summer, double that. A 20-pound bag from the gas station costs less than warm beer.
Offer a non-alcoholic option people actually want
Sparkling water, iced tea, or a simple mocktail goes further than plain soda. Designated drivers and non-drinkers will thank you.
Watch the first hour
Guests drink the most in the first 60 minutes. If you are running low on a popular item, slow the pace by putting out snacks or starting a game.
Account for your crowd
A college reunion drinks differently than a neighborhood potluck. Adjust the heavy-drinker slider honestly. The planner can only work with what you tell it.
Check return policies
Many stores accept unopened returns. Buy from a retailer with a good return policy so you are not stuck with 30 extra bottles of something nobody liked.
Example: Planning a 30-person summer BBQ
Sarah is hosting a July cookout for 30 people. She expects about 4 hours of hanging out. She sets the drinker split to 25% heavy, 45% light, and 30% non-drinker (a few kids and some friends who do not drink). PourPlan suggests 72 beers, 3 bottles of wine, 36 sodas, 18 juices, and 2 bottles of mixer. Ice comes to 45 pounds. The estimated cost is around $95. Sarah rounds the beer up to 84 (a full case plus a six-pack) and picks up three 20-pound bags of ice. She saves the plan so she can adjust it for her Labor Day party.
What PourPlan assumes
- Standard servings: 12 oz beer, 5 oz wine, 8 oz mixer per drink.
- Heavy drinkers average 3 drinks per hour; light drinkers average 1.5.
- Non-drinkers consume 2 non-alcoholic beverages over the event.
- Summer events increase consumption by about 20%.
- Cost estimates use average US retail prices and exclude tax, cups, and garnishes.