How much spirits do I need for 40 guests?

You need 9 bottles of spirits for 40 guests at a thanksgiving. This provides 132 total servings with a 15% buffer to ensure you don't run out.

How much spirits per person for a thanksgiving?

Plan for 3.3 servings of spirits per person at a thanksgiving. 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 40 guests, you'll need 9 bottles to provide 132 total servings.

What percentage of guests will drink spirits at a thanksgiving?

At a thanksgiving with 40 guests, approximately 30 guests (75%) will actively drink. Our formula accounts for this when calculating the 9 bottles you need.

Should I buy extra spirits as a buffer?

Yes! Our calculation of 9 bottles already includes a 15% buffer (1 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 9 bottles of spirits last for 40 guests?

9 bottles of spirits will last approximately 4 hours for 40 guests at a thanksgiving. This calculation factors in the natural slowdown of consumption as the event progresses.

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How Much Spirits for a 40 Guest Thanksgiving?

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bottles of spirits

For a 40-guest thanksgiving lasting 4 hours

15% buffer included

132

Total servings

3.3

Per person

Buffer bottles

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 × 4 hours

= 180 base drinks

Industry standard is 1.5 drinks per person per hour for a 4-hour event.

Apply consumption decay

Adjusted for drinking slowdown over time (decay factor: 3.25)

= 146 adjusted drinks

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

Apply thanksgiving modifier

× 0.9 (-10% for spirits)

= 132 spirits servings needed

Thanksgivings typically consume 10% less spirits than average.

Convert to bottles

132 servings ÷ 17 servings per bottle

= 7.8 bottles (raw)

Each bottle of spirits provides 17 servings.

Add 15% buffer & round up

7.8 × 1.15 = 9.0, rounded up

= 9 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	6 bottles	83 servings
50 guests	12 bottles	165 servings
75 guests	17 bottles	248 servings
100 guests	23 bottles	330 servings
150 guests	34 bottles	495 servings
200 guests	45 bottles	660 servings

* All calculations include a 15% buffer. Amounts for thanksgiving.

Your Shopping List

Everything you need, plus essentials you might forget

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Spirits

The main event

bottles

Don't forget these

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

44 liters
Ice (~2 lbs per person)

60 lbs
Cocktail glasses (2 per drinker)

60 glasses
Buy
Garnishes (limes, lemons)

17 pieces

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Pro Tips for Your Thanksgiving

Insider advice from experienced bartenders

💡

Wine consumption peaks during dinner - have bottles ready at the table.

⏰

Pre-dinner cocktails should be light so people can enjoy the meal.

🎯

After-dinner drinks (port, brandy) are a nice touch.

🧊

Football watching = beer in the afternoon before dinner.

✨

Designated drivers are essential - plan non-alcoholic options.

🛒 Buying Guide

Thanksgiving is wine-heavy with the meal. Plan 1 bottle of wine per 2 adults at the table. Have a light cocktail option for pre-dinner and maybe some beer for football watching. Keep it classy.

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