How many drinks for 50 pax?
About 200 drinks for 50 guests over three hours: five cartons of cans, three of water and two of packet drinks. The rule, the table and a calculator for your own numbers are below.
Fifty guests, three hours, indoors: plan on about 200 drinks. That is two a person in the first hour and one a person for each hour after. Buy them as five cartons of cans, three of water and two of packet drinks, and you will have a little left over, which is the right way round.
The rule of thumb
- Two drinks a guest in the first hour, when everyone arrives thirsty.
- One drink a guest for each hour after that.
- A quarter more outdoors, and shift the mix towards water.
- Round up to whole cartons of 24. A part carton is a carton.
The calculator below does this arithmetic for your own numbers. It gives you drinks and cartons, not a price: the price of each carton is on its tile and it changes with the basket, so the basket is where to read it.
What to mix
For a mixed crowd indoors, something like six cans in ten, two or three waters, and one or two packet drinks. Cans are what most adults reach for. Water goes further than you expect, especially outdoors. Packet drinks are for children and for anyone who wants something lighter, and they are the easiest to carry home unopened.
For a children's party, turn it round: half packet drinks, a third water, and a few cans for the adults.
For an outdoor gathering, half water is not too much.
Big bottles for the table
If guests sit at tables, add one 1.5L bottle per table on top of the count above. A bottle on the table is the drink people take without asking, and it cuts the number of cans opened and left half full.
Ordering
We deliver within 3–5 working days, so order a week before the date. If you want it on a particular day, pick a later slot in your basket, before you check out. Cans and packets keep for months unopened and out of the sun, so an early delivery costs nothing.
Delivery is free from S$65 of drinks, which any party order clears. The container deposit is S$0.10 a can or bottle, on its own line, and you get it back per container at a reverse vending machine afterwards: keep a box for the empties.
Where to order
Soft drinks by the carton, water, packet drinks and big bottles for the table.
Cartons people start with
- 100 Plus, 24 cans of 325ml
- Coke Zero, 24 cans of 320ml
- Elements water, 24 bottles of 500ml
- Yeo's chrysanthemum tea, 24 packets of 250ml
- Elements water, 12 bottles of 1.5L for the tables
More collections for this guide
How many drinks for your guests?
A rule of thumb, not a promise: two drinks a guest in the first hour, one for each hour after, and a quarter more outdoors. Rounded up to whole cartons of 24.
| Guests | Drinks | Cartons of cans | Cartons of water | Cartons of packet drinks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 80 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 30 | 120 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 50 | 200 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| 80 | 320 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| 100 | 400 | 10 | 5 | 3 |
| 150 | 600 | 15 | 7 | 4 |
Cartons are 24 cans, 24 bottles or 24 packets. Big bottles for the table are on top of this.
Questions
Is 200 drinks for 50 people too many?
For three hours indoors it is about right. Unopened cartons keep for months, so the cost of over-ordering is a shelf, and the cost of under-ordering is a second trip in the middle of the party.
What if the event is outdoors?
Add a quarter. People drink more in the heat, and more of it is water. The calculator does this when you pick Outdoors.
How far ahead should I order?
We deliver within 3–5 working days, so order at least a week before the date. If you want a particular day, you can pick a later slot in your basket.
Do I get the deposit back on 200 cans?
Yes, S$0.10 a container at any BCRS return point. Keep a bin for the empties and take them to a reverse vending machine afterwards.