How much drink would you allocate for a party?

[{sarah}]

I'm organising my friend's hens night for this Saturday & am worried I don't have enough drinks. I am providing soft drink & they are providing their own alcohol if they want. There are 18 women. Two are pregnant so won't be drinking alcohol & four others won't drink either, or will have very little because they are driving home. We are starting at 1pm with pampering treatments & then going all night as a big pyjama party. I have 13L of soft drink and am thinking it might not be enough. Should I be catering for at least a litre per person? What would you allocate?

[Muppity]

I'd be thinking that that would be enough soft drink but I am wondering about juice and milk for the morning.
Mind you - I work on the theory that if someone brings a bottle of rum thinking that they will be drinking rum and cokes all night they would also bring some coke IYKWIM.

[Jaycee]

I would organise it as around 4 drinks per person, 4 drinks would be around a litre, so yep I reckon a litre per person, and maybe a couple of litres extra just in case?
It's better to have too much than too little!

[bon]

I always buy a bit extra than what I think we will need - if there are leftovers, so be it, but if there is not enough it is annoying and a hassle to have to go to the shops to get more. If we are having a lot of people over we tend to buy a carton or two of cans of soft drink, then we will have maybe a big drink bottle filled with punch or cordial or even just water as a back up. Extra milk is handy too, for cuppas.

[Marlene]

I would definently work on at least a litre per person...plus extra just in case. You can always store any extra for future parties, bbq's, BB meets, LOL.

[{sarah}]

Aaaah yes juice & milk for the morning, good thinking Muppity.

Off to the shops for me again tomorrow!

[DoubleK]

i think a litre per person is about right.. but still have back up! what about flavoured mineral water as well.