drinks for kids party

[Clearinguptheclutter]

really boring question but I have been put in charge of drinks for the y6 leavers party. To be clear, school are organising a disco but some parents are organising a party on their actual last day .I have been put in charge of drinks.
there are about 25 coming but I expect possibly a handful of siblings so lets say 30.

a. how many bottles of pop?
b. Are aldi "fakes" (what I usually buy) ok or should I be gettnig the branded stuff. Not particularly worried about cost personally but obviously getting branded stuff will push up the "ticket price" for each kid.

Depends how long and how hot but you probably want 750ml per kid or close to to be safe and cover adults helping, and then some tap water and squash for hydration

I would say lemonade and orangeade can be generic but you probably want real Coke

sorry I shoud have said it will be 2 or 3 hours, negotiations (of which I am no part) are continuing on that.

Yes tap water/squash for extras is a good idea.

good call on real coke (or diet?/zero). I have never given my kids any kind of coke. Is it normal at this age? I imagine so but just checking. Def would have been for me at that age, admittedly

I’d get 2 bottles each of Coke Zero, Fanta Zero and Sprite Zero.

or maybe 3? When we did year 6 leavers they devoured the Coke.

Then orange & blackcurrant squash with tap water.

I'd prob get around 10 bottles and then do water and squash. Likely to be hot so they will no doubt be thirsty!

I often do mocktails for kids when hot, just fizzy water with pineapple juice or orange juice. I think it’s really refreshing, artificial sweeteners just make me thirstier for some reason.

I’d go with Coke Zero if buying real coke everything else can be generic.

I’d buy cans of pop making sure there’s enough for each person to have 2 cans each and then water/ squash for if they want more to drink

This sounds great!

OP - what about a make your own mocktail station?

Different fruit juices, lemonade, ice, fruit garnishes, mint, fun straws and little paper umbrellas?

I bet they would have a lot of fun making them too.

This is probably controversial but I would not be thrilled for soda (particularly caffeinated) be served as a party at school — and I would be surprised by it at my school. I would lean more towards water bottles, fruit juices, maybe lemon lime soda.

It's fucking party ... Lighten up.

If it’s a hot day, an esky full of ice cubes and some disposable cups might go down well. And someone to stand over and serve otherwise you could get grotty hands just diving in.

At our school fair the soft drinks that most of the older kids go for are apple or orange tango / sprite and coke zero. Squash and water also usually available. You might be able to get offers on slabs / box of cans (usually 24 in a slab). Prob allow for a couple of cans each.

Popular at our school events with kids:
Dr Pepper
Pink lemonade 7 Up
Cherry coke
Vanilla coke
Appletiser
500ml bottles of water

The drinks were bought at Costco in catering pallets of 24 cans each which worked out cheaper than Lidl. We thought about cups and big bottles but it seemed a logistical nightmare so just set up recycling stations for the cans and bottles.

If you are buying several cases of cans then Iceland often works out cheapest, but I love the idea of a mocktail bar.

You will also want bottled water and fruit shoot type drinks too, for those who are not allowed fizzy pop.

We have fizzy water and juice at home which is nicer imo. I’m not puritanical and think fizzy drinks are fine for a party but you could mix it up with other options.

If you must have cans of pop then can you get the mini ones? If you have the e big ones you run something if a risk of them being left/ slopped all over surfaces.

Jugs of iced juice and disposable paper cups?

Those self contained cup drinks/fruit shoots?

Water in smaller bottles. DC I know would not have entertained fizzy drinks at that age and wanted water.

You could end up with a load of kids in a sugar high.

Long used by /best before dates so that you can use them at sports day/Christmas fair if you don't get rid of all

year 6 children are 11, some will be 12 in a few weeks.
some of the replies above make me wonder if people think we are talking about much younger children?

in a few weeks they will be starting secondary and most will have access to buy drinks etc from shops on way to/from school.
Some already will be doing this.
Generally, most will expect and be used to fizzy drinks including cola especially at a party.
and for those who prefer not to have them, sounds like there will be plenty of tap water and squash.
they are unlikely to have a ‘sugar high’ as most of these drinks don’t have sugar. I know some people prefer to avoid sweeteners but there is a choice. I’m not convinced that a sugar high is actually a thing really.
I’d allow for 2-3 cans per person, and some way of monitoring they all have opportunity to have 2-3

At Neighbours DS leavers they had 1 frozen cup drink each (think box oforange or raspberry £2.99 for 24?? B&M) or they could have a cola floater which is ice cream and coke mixed, their was also a pink slushy drink. They also had mocktails as someone mentioned and unlimited water and squash. The mocktails were served when then had the bbq, water/squash avaliable anytime and frozen cups or cola floater were both at end. I only know all this as I picked him up after his party and he told me every little detail.

We are having mocktails at DS's leavers' party. There will be a menu for them to choose and order from. My DS would rather have plain apple juice, coke or lemonade but he will happily have water.

You could do a "welcome" drink that is fizzy when they get there already poured, then the rest is squash (sorry if something similar has been posted I've not read all posts).

If you have a Farmfoods they have trays of cans very cheap if buying 3 or more

It’s not at school. Private venue, organised by parents.

How much caffeine would you usually give your 11 year old in a day?
Because I would think / hope most come from homes that tech the concept of moderation when it comes to drinks like this.

For year 6 avoid caffeinated drinks altogether. Generic cloudy lemonade, orangeade and lemon-lime drink work well along with water and squash. As a parent I would have been annoyed if Coke was served as it wasn’t allowed at home

We have caffeine free Coke in our house and DS probably has 1 or 2 small glasses a week. My mun often reminds me that I had full fat coke when we lived in France when I was 2 (1977). I used to the local bar with my dad's boss' daughter (she would have been 7 and all the staff knew us and used to serve us a coke each!)