If you are planning a party, a wedding or a backyard barbecue in Canada, the first question is always the same: how many drinks per guest should I buy? Buy too little and you are running to the store mid-event. Buy too much and you are staring at unopened cases for months. Here is a simple party drink calculator you can run in two minutes, plus how to split the order across flavours and what to do with whatever is left.
How many drinks per guest: the basic formula
Most event planners work from one rule: budget one drink per guest per hour, with a little extra for the first hour when everyone arrives thirsty. The formula looks like this:
- Guests multiplied by hours of the event equals your base number of drinks.
- Add 10 to 15 percent as a buffer so you never run dry.
- Count only guests of legal drinking age, and set out water and non-alcoholic options for everyone.
For a 40-person house party running four hours, that is 160 drinks plus a buffer, so plan for about 180. Not every one of those will be a canned cocktail, so the next step is deciding the mix.
A party drink calculator for three common events
Backyard barbecue (20 guests, 4 hours)
Hot afternoons push people toward lighter, easy-drinking options, so canned vodka water tends to be the majority choice. Plan on 80 drinks, with roughly two thirds as cans. That works out to about 55 cans, so order three cases of 24 and you have a comfortable margin.
House party (40 guests, 4 hours)
With beer and wine on the table too, assume about half of the 180 drinks are canned cocktails. That is 90 cans, or four cases.
Wedding reception (100 guests, 5 hours)
If you are working out how much alcohol for a wedding, use the same math at a bigger scale: 500 drinks plus buffer, so roughly 550. A typical split is 40 percent wine, 25 percent beer and 35 percent ready-to-drink cocktails. That puts you near 190 cans, or eight cases. Confirm your venue's licensing rules before you buy, since many require alcohol to be served by their own staff.
How to split across flavours
Aura comes in three flavours, and the safest approach is not an even split. Cucumber Lime is the most food-friendly and the one most guests reach for first, so give it the biggest share. A split that works at nearly every event is 40 percent Cucumber Lime, 30 percent Mango Peach and 30 percent Coconut Pineapple. For a four-case order, that means two cases of Cucumber Lime and one case of each of the others. For a summer barbecue, tilt toward Coconut Pineapple; at an evening wedding, Mango Peach tends to disappear fastest. You can see all three in our vodka water cocktails.
Buying bulk canned cocktails also solves the serving problem. Every can is a single serve, so there are no half-empty bottles, no mixers to run out of and no bartender needed. Fill a cooler or a tub with ice an hour before guests arrive and the bar runs itself.
What to do with leftovers
This is where cans beat almost everything else. Aura is a still drink with zero carbonation, so an unopened can has nothing to go flat and keeps for months in a cool, dark spot. A few practical options:
- Send guests of legal drinking age home with a couple of cans as a favour.
- Keep a case in the fridge for the next long weekend or patio night.
- Pour a few over ice in a pitcher with sliced fruit for an easy, no-effort punch.
Because there is no added sugar and no artificial sweetener in the can, leftovers are not a sticky mess either. Read more about what is and is not in each can at why Aura.
Where to order
If your event is in Ontario, you can order cases directly from us for delivery to any Ontario address. In Alberta, look for Aura at AGLC-licensed private retailers, and in British Columbia check BC Liquor Stores and licensed private retailers. Use where to buy to find the nearest stock, and order at least a week ahead for weddings.
Run the numbers, round up to full cases and lead with Cucumber Lime. Please enjoy responsibly, serve only guests of legal drinking age in your province, and keep plenty of water and food on hand. Ready to stock the cooler? Order direct in Ontario or find a retailer near you today.