Setting Up Your Bar
Here are some tips for having your own alcohol and bar under a Special Occasions Permit, employing a SmartServe/Serve it Right licensed Bartender.
Order more alcohol than you expect to need, you can return any unused/unopened bottles as long as you keep the receipts.
The average guests typically drink 2 cocktail in the first hour and one for every hour of the event.
For a cocktail reception, allow for 4 drinks per person.
For a full dinner & dance (with cocktail reception prior), allow 5-6 drinks per person
How many servings per bottle?
A 750 mL bottle of Wine pours 5 glasses
A 750mL bottle of Champagne pours 6 flutes
A 1 Liter bottle will pour 33 drinks (at one ounce each)
Mix
Have 3 bottles of mix per each bottle of alcohol
Have at least 5kg (11lbs) of ice per 10 people
For mix you should have: Soda Water, Cola, Ginger Ale, Cranberry Juice, Clamato, Sprite or 7-up, Orange Juice, Grapefruit Juice, Pineapple Juice.
Have extra soft drinks & bottled water on hand for those who wish not to drink alcohol
Garnishes
You’ll need sliced lemons and/or limes, orange slices, maraschino cherries, celery (extra touches would include olives, cocktail onions)
You’ll also need Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, salt & pepper, sugar
Tools
Ice bucket
Slop bucket (for spilled drinks or melted ice)
Corkscrew
Bottle opener
Can opener
Ice tongs
Shot glass (for measuring)
Small sharp knife
Cutting board
Long spoon for mixing
Cocktail shaker
Cocktail napkins
Toothpicks
Straws
Glassware
Glassware can be rented from most party rental companies.
Order at least one multipurpose wine glass and champagne flute per guest, adding an extra 5 for every 50 guests (i.e. if there are 150 guests order 165 wine glasses and flutes)
Order at least 2 tumblers per guest. (they will have to be washed in between uses)
For signature drinks and martinis, order the appropriate glass and follow the same rule as tumblers
Here’s a great calculator for figuring out how much ice cubes you need for your drinks:
For more info on liquor licensing and purchasing allowances go here.
