How much beer should you plan for your event? The one-litre-per-person rule
This is, without a doubt, the question we’re asked most often when someone calls us to book a beer tap. And it’s only natural: between the fear of running out in the middle of the evening and the fear of ending up with ten full kegs in the boot of the car, it’s understandable to want to get it just right. Good news: we have our own little formula, honed over hundreds of weddings, corporate events and birthdays of all kinds. Here it is.
The basic rule: 1 litre per guest. All guests included. Yes, we count the children too, the granny who has a half-pint as an aperitif, and Uncle Bernard who’s been on the water since Easter (at last). Why does this average hold true? Because those who don’t drink balance out those who really go for it. If you’ve got 80 guests at your wedding, get 80 litres. A bit less for Uncle’s 50th, for the retirement party, or for the big block party.
The group of 10 die-hards. Now, the nuance that changes everything: at a wedding or a big party, there’s almost always a small group of 8 to 12 people who just won’t let up. They’re the ones who turn a night that ‘ends at 2am’ into one that ‘ends at 5am, barefoot on the grass’. They drink three times the average. Our advice: plan for an extra keg for these brave souls. At worst, we’ll take it back; at best, it will have saved the night.
And depending on the type of event, you can adjust things a bit. For a wedding or a big private party, the rule applies in full: people are there all day and all evening. For a 30th birthday, allow around 1.2L per person — thirty-somethings still drink like thirty-somethings (you’ll find out when you’re on the other side). For a 60th birthday, feel free to reduce it to 0.5–0.6 litres: the party has slowed down, and the evening ends earlier. Finally, for a corporate event, aim for 0.4 to 0.5 litres: no one wants to get drunk in front of the HR manager, and the beer tap serves more as a symbol of conviviality than as a draught beer dispenser.
| Type of event | Litres per guest | Example for 80 guests |
|---|---|---|
| Wedding / large private party | 1.0 L | 80 L |
| 30th birthday | 1.2 L | 100 L |
| 60th birthday | 0.5–0.6 L | 60 L |
| Business event | 0.4–0.5 L | 40 L |
What if I get it wrong? Now’s the time to remember the game-changer: we take back unopened kegs free of charge, provided the plastic cap is intact. In practical terms, plan for a spare keg ‘just in case’. If the party winds down early, it goes back to the depot and you won’t have paid for nothing. Be careful, though: a tapped keg that’s barely been touched will be charged at full price — so only tap a new keg when you’re sure you’ll drink enough, not “just to see if it’s any good”.
Summary. 1L per person, plus one spare keg, and you’re all set. If you’d like us to work out a quote for your specific event, email us at location@lamise.ch. The rates and terms for tap rental are online — from 45 CHF for the weekend, and free if you consume 5 or more kegs.
— Lupulynn
Frequently asked questions
How many litres of beer should I buy for 50 people?+
Allow for at least 50 litres if you’re following the ‘one litre per person’ rule. In practice, aim for 55–60 litres instead: that’s one 30-litre keg plus one 20-litre keg, or a single 50-litre keg, and you’ll have a bit of foam left over for the after-party. Better to have half a keg that fits in the fridge than a thirsty guest.
Should we allow for more beer per person in the summer?+
Yes, definitely. Above 25°C, it goes up to 1.3–1.5 litres per person. A wedding reception in July in Lausanne isn’t the same as a corporate dinner in November. With the heat, the terrace and the drinks reception dragging on, you might find yourself running out just when nobody fancies going back to the car.
What should you do if there is beer left in the keg after the event?+
An opened keg that’s been properly chilled will keep for 2–3 days without losing any quality, provided the pressure is maintained. If you hire our tap, we’ll happily collect the opened keg — no need to finish off 15 litres all by yourself on a Monday evening. And as for unopened kegs, we’ll take them back.
From 45 CHF a weekend, free above 5 kegs.
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