How much beer do I need for 40 guests?

You need 7 cases of beer for 40 guests at a new year's eve party. This provides 135 total servings with a 15% buffer to ensure you don't run out.

How much beer per person for a new year's eve party?

Plan for 3.4 servings of beer per person at a new year's eve party. This accounts for the fact that not everyone drinks alcohol and consumption naturally slows as the event progresses.

How many servings are in a case of beer?

One case of beer contains 24 servings. For 40 guests, you'll need 7 cases to provide 135 total servings.

What percentage of guests will drink beer at a new year's eve party?

At a new year's eve party with 40 guests, approximately 30 guests (75%) will actively drink. Our formula accounts for this when calculating the 7 cases you need.

Should I buy extra beer as a buffer?

Yes! Our calculation of 7 cases already includes a 15% buffer (1 extra cases). This ensures you won't run out even if some guests drink more than average. It's always better to have leftovers than to run short.

How long will 7 cases of beer last for 40 guests?

7 cases of beer will last approximately 5 hours for 40 guests at a new year's eve party. This calculation factors in the natural slowdown of consumption as the event progresses.

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🍷 Wine 🍺 Beer viewing 🥂 Champagne 🥃 Spirits

How Much Beer for a 40 Guest New Year's Eve Party?

🍺

cases of beer

For a 40-guest new year's eve party lasting 5 hours

15% buffer included

135

Total servings

3.4

Per person

Buffer cases

How We Calculated This

Our bartender-tested formula, step by step

Estimate actual drinkers

40 guests × 75% drinking rate

= 30 drinkers

At medium events, about 75% of guests typically drink alcohol.

Calculate base consumption

30 drinkers × 1.5 drinks/hour × 5 hours

= 225 base drinks

Industry standard is 1.5 drinks per person per hour for a 5-hour event.

Apply consumption decay

Adjusted for drinking slowdown over time (decay factor: 3.75)

= 169 adjusted drinks

People drink faster in the first hour and slow down as the event progresses.

Apply new year's eve party modifier

× 0.8 (-20% for beer)

= 135 beer servings needed

New Year's Eve Partys typically consume 20% less beer than average.

Convert to cases

135 servings ÷ 24 servings per case

= 5.6 cases (raw)

Each case of beer provides 24 servings.

Add 15% buffer & round up

5.6 × 1.15 = 6.4, rounded up

= 7 cases

Always round up and add a buffer. Running out is worse than having leftovers!

* Why trust this formula?

Based on industry standards and refined by bartenders with 30+ years of experience. We factor in consumption decay (people drink less as events progress) and real-world drinking percentages.

📊 Quick Reference: Beer by Guest Count

Guests	Beer Needed	Total Servings
25 guests	5 cases	84 servings
50 guests	9 cases	169 servings
75 guests	14 cases	253 servings
100 guests	18 cases	338 servings
150 guests	27 cases	506 servings
200 guests	35 cases	675 servings

* All calculations include a 15% buffer. Amounts for new year's eve party.

Your Shopping List

Everything you need, plus essentials you might forget

🍺

Beer

The main event

cases

Don't forget these

Ice (Keep those beers cold!)

84 lbs
Coolers (2 cases per cooler)

4 coolers
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Pro Tips for Your New Year's Eve Party

Insider advice from experienced bartenders

💡

70% of champagne is consumed between 11:30pm and 12:15am - time your chilling.

⏰

Have champagne COLD and ready to pour at 11:55pm.

🎯

People pace themselves until 10pm then drinking accelerates.

🧊

Late-night parties need designated drivers or Uber - plan ahead.

✨

Noisemakers and party favors should be near the champagne station.

🛒 Buying Guide

This is THE champagne event. Plan 1 bottle per 3-4 guests for the midnight toast, plus additional for cocktails (French 75s, Kir Royale). Have regular bar options for earlier in the evening. Stock more than you think - better to have leftovers than run out at midnight.

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