Free bar at birthday party?

[bellinique]

Hello lovely Mumsnetters

Hoping for your experience and advice re an evening birthday party we’re organising for DMIL.

It’s a special age birthday and we’re hiring a nice venue and providing a buffet. The venue is happy for us to bring our own wine so we’re thinking of getting enough champagne and wine for everyone to have a glass of each, plus a few soft drinks for children/drivers.

We were also thinking of having a cash bar available but my AIBU question is: Is it stingy to expect people to pay for some of their drinks? Should we be paying for all drinks?

We’re conscious it could increase the cost quite a bit if we have an open bar all evening but not sure what the done thing is?

Any thoughts greatly appreciated!

Who are these people who provide a free bar at their birthday parties? I'd like to get to know them!

I would always expect to buy or take my own drinks at a party. A glass of fizz or similar to start the night is a lovely touch but please don't stump up for a whole room of folk to get pished!

I would’nt expect a free bar but in the past I've paid for house wine and bottled beers and it’s worked out very reasonable and people who stuck to wine / beer had a free night. It's not quite a free bar because those who wanted spirits or cocktails had to pay but they did have the choice of free wine / beer of they wanted so I didn't fee bad. I've also done it so I've provided x amount of bottles of wine and then people had to pay but surprisingly it didn't come to that because the wine I had provided was enough and don't run out in the end.

Thank you all so much for the helpful replies and advice! Really appreciate the feedback and also the funny stories 😂

MrsCipo it’s more like a country house hotel but it’s just not actually a hotel, so there is a proper bar. Good point though, I wouldn’t charge people to buy drinks in a rented house!

Think we’ll stick to the plan with the champagne, wine and soft drinks and try to make sure there’s plenty to go round (but not too much!)

Thanks again!