Party etiquette- Will guest expect Free bar all night?

[JeezJerry]

Throwing a surprise Party for DHs 50th, around 70 Guests with a DJ and buffet catering.
The Hall I've hired comes with a Bar and Staff for the Evening..
Now, AIBU for putting a certain amount of money behind the Bar for drinks and once that runs out, Guests buy their own? Or is that really tight? What would you expect if you were invited?

I wouldn't even expect one free drink at an event like that.

I wouldn't expect a free bar so unless you can totally afford it just let people get their own drinks.
If you do put some money behind then just make that really clear, but sadly I think you might find it does quicker than expected with people being greedy and just gets lost
In the overall chaos of the evening and not really remembered/wont benefit everyone much etc, so maybe not worth it.
If you had a massive budget then you could do a set time period (like 1 hour free bar) which might mean everyone gets a chance but even more expensive

That's very reasonable. It might even work doing 'vouchers', maybe 2 per head, so that the early birds and greedy bastards don't empty the coffers before everyone gets there

Depends on the venue set up for me - a general hall I’d expect free drinks and a hall in a pub I’d expect to pay.

But I’d been fine paying if I knew - as long as you let people know it’s fine.

I wouldn't expect a free bar at all, I don't think many would! It would be very cheeky to turn up expecting for all your drinks to be paid for by someone else.

Phew! I'm so pleased you're all coming back and saying the same thing. I personally would never expect free drinks but I've never thrown a party before and just had a wave of panic! I can definitely manage a welcome drink and probably one more but no way can I afford a free bar 😅

I have had;

• Parties in hall, no bar; I supplied drinks
• Parties in hall, no bar; stated BYO
• Parties in hall, with bar; guests paid for their own drinks.

There is no 'right or wrong' but you do need to make sure people know what the expectations are.

I'd would expect to pay for drinks but it would he handy to know whether the bar will take cash or cards and sharing that info on the invites will make it clear to people that they need to pay.

In our circle you'd always buy one drink first for people and then everyone buys their own .

I wouldn't expect a free bar.

Sometimes people put a first drink behind the bar, but you'll need a ticketing system to avoid pisstaking.

I'd never expect a free bar, would definitely be the norm to pay for your own drinks round here!

I agree. Why not give a token of some sort to everyone who arrives for the first free drink. Or even two if you are feeling generous.

To buy everyone 2 drinks would cost you £840 (£6 a pint) so only offer a free bar if you are minted.!!!!!

I would not expect any free drinks. For my 40th I had a similar party and put on loads of food and cake which guests seemed happy with.

That's exactly what we did for my DPs 50th. Let people know on the invite that the first round is on us but after that it's a pay bar.

I think provide either food or drink is fine, no need to do both, but make it clear beforehand to avoid confusion. One drink each would be great, two would be extremely generous. A free bar could get very expensive!

I think easier to have a welcome drink than put money behind the bar.

What happens if someone goes up and orders multiple drinks? What happens if someone is late and the money has gone? Will you give everyone a ticket in exchange for a drink? Is it beer and wine only or could someone order a triple brandy?

Too many variables if you put money behind so either have drinks ready to hand out as they come in. Or have some bottles of wine and bottles of beer sitting on a table.

Or don’t do anything at all as most people wouldn’t expect anything supplied at a birthday party in my experience

If I invited guests to a party I was hosting, there would be a free bar. If others do, I don't expect it across the board.

A good compromise is the equivalent of half a bottle of wine and after that a pay bar. Most people I know wouldn't drink more than that pay bar or otherwise.

Then again we didn't expect guests to pay for drinks at our wedding 30 odd years ago or DS's less than two years ago. Nobody got blind drunk.

@confiscatedtables I really wish I was minted!! But sadly not, I've been stashing away money for a while for the Party!

@JeezJerry we had a free bar at my late daughters wedding and it was actually very reasonable. think it came to only around 1000 pounds and that was all day in scotland with 110 people at purchase price drinks, as in a private bar, where someone does the bar and they have a liquor training cert thing. you provide booze and no one is charged, therefore no licence is needed. you can buy the booze on a sale or return from tesco and they also give out glasses which have to be returned.

I wouldn’t expect a free bar at all.

Wouldn't cross my mind not to pay for my drinks. Provide a toast or arrival drink if you want.

I wouldn't expect a free bar, and I think if you put money behind the bar it might disappear quicker than you expect! I agree that providing an arrival drink might be a nice touch.

Blimey, really? It’s normal to pay for your own drinks,

Anything behind the bar would be a bonus, but you need to ensure a few aren't greedy which means they have three feee drinks and others none!