How much a bar really pours in four hours

Every host is afraid of running out, so every host overbuys. Here is how we count a bar so it lasts the night without a garage full of wine afterwards.

One drink per guest per hour

For a four-hour event with 100 guests, plan on 400 drinks. That is the number the rest of the maths comes from.

Split it by what people drink

A wedding in Richmond runs about half wine, a third beer and the rest spirits or a signature cocktail. Afternoon events lean further towards beer.

A bottle of wine is five glasses

So 200 glasses of wine is forty bottles. Buy it by the case from a shop that takes back unopened bottles, and most in Richmond will.

Bartenders, not bottles, make the line

One bartender for every 60 guests on beer and wine, one for every 40 with a full bar. A line at the bar is almost always a staffing problem.

Water and ice

One pound of ice per guest, more in summer, and water on every table. It is the cheapest way to keep a bar calm.