How much spirits do I need for 20 guests?

You need 5 bottles of spirits for 20 guests at a super bowl party. This provides 72 total servings with a 15% buffer to ensure you don't run out.

How much spirits per person for a super bowl party?

Plan for 3.6 servings of spirits per person at a super bowl 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 bottle of spirits?

One bottle of spirits contains 17 servings. For 20 guests, you'll need 5 bottles to provide 72 total servings.

What percentage of guests will drink spirits at a super bowl party?

At a super bowl party with 20 guests, approximately 16 guests (80%) will actively drink. Our formula accounts for this when calculating the 5 bottles you need.

Should I buy extra spirits as a buffer?

Yes! Our calculation of 5 bottles already includes a 15% buffer (0 extra bottles). 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 5 bottles of spirits last for 20 guests?

5 bottles of spirits will last approximately 5 hours for 20 guests at a super bowl party. This calculation factors in the natural slowdown of consumption as the event progresses.

Calculate a different drink for this event

🍷 Wine 🍺 Beer 🥂 Champagne 🥃 Spirits viewing

How Much Spirits for a 20 Guest Super Bowl Party?

You will need approx.

🥃

bottles of spirits

For a 20-guest super bowl party lasting 5 hours

info 15% buffer included

Total servings

3.6

Per person

Buffer bottles

How We Calculated This

Our bartender-tested formula, step by step

Estimate actual drinkers

20 guests × 80% drinking rate

= 16 drinkers

At small events, about 80% of guests typically drink alcohol.

Calculate base consumption

16 drinkers × 1.5 drinks/hour × 5 hours

= 120 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)

= 90 adjusted drinks

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

Apply super bowl party modifier

× 0.8 (-20% for spirits)

= 72 spirits servings needed

Super Bowl Partys typically consume 20% less spirits than average.

Convert to bottles

72 servings ÷ 17 servings per bottle

= 4.2 bottles (raw)

Each bottle of spirits provides 17 servings.

Add 15% buffer & round up

4.2 × 1.15 = 4.8, rounded up

= 5 bottles

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: Spirits by Guest Count

Guests	Spirits Needed	Total Servings
25 guests	7 bottles	90 servings
50 guests	13 bottles	180 servings
75 guests	19 bottles	270 servings
100 guests	25 bottles	360 servings
150 guests	38 bottles	540 servings
200 guests	50 bottles	720 servings

* All calculations include a 15% buffer. Amounts for super bowl party.

The Essentials

🥃 5 bottles Spirits

24 liters Mixers (soda, tonic, juice) (Variety is key)

32 lbs Ice (~2 lbs per person)

32 glasses Cocktail glasses (2 per drinker) Buy

9 pieces Garnishes (limes, lemons)

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The Host's Secret

Editorial Curation

ATMOSPHERE

"Stock beer by the quarter: Q1 (30%), Q2 (25%), Q3 (20%), Q4 (25%) of total consumption."

Pro Tip #1

PREPARATION

"ALWAYS have 15% extra beer cold and ready - overtime games increase consumption by 50%."

Pro Tip #2

TIMING

"Use halftime to restock ALL coolers - you have exactly 25 minutes."

Pro Tip #3

SERVICE

"Heavy food like wings and nachos reduces alcohol consumption by 15%."

Pro Tip #4

PRESENTATION

"Light beers disappear fastest - they're easier to drink during a 4-hour game."

Pro Tip #5

🛒

Buying Guide

This is a beer event, period. Stock 70% light/domestic beers and 30% craft/premium options. Have coolers pre-staged in multiple locations so guests can grab drinks without blocking the TV. Buy ice in bulk - you'll need 3lbs per person for a Super Bowl party.

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