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?

Only £1000?
That's a lot of money for many people.

If you do decide to put money behind the bar you could limit it to specific drinks.

There's a huge discrepancy between a pint of lager and a fancy £12 cocktail. At our wedding, we opened a tab and told the venue to give us the nod when it reached our budget but we were only paying for beer (any beer), house wine (red/white/rose), prosecco and all soft drinks. We felt that was a broad enough range for most.

Just make sure if it's cash only you let everyone know in advance.

we had a free bar at my late daughters wedding and it was actually very reasonable. think it came to only around 1000

"Only"
😳
flippin eck lol

Wouldn't expect free bar at all,people will take the pics and have way more than their share,I'd do drink to toast or tokens like suggested.

The norm for a party at a venue where I am is the host provides a buffet and the guests pay for their drinks.

if you’re feeling generous maybe provide a couple of bottles of wine and a bucket of beer per table?

I have never seen an invitation stipulate that drinks must be paid for, no-one assumes there will be a free bar.

Ten pounds per head in Tesco will go a lot further than ten pounds per head in a venue though. Could be 4x as much

I wouldn't expect a free bar at all - even putting a small amount behind the bar for guests is generous I think

It's a lot cheaper than many people pay for packages for weddings that don't include a free bar.

We did a fully catered weekend of food and drink for our wedding for £6000, which was dinner Friday to breakfast Sunday, for 75 people. I'd call that much better value than a hotel package with half a bottle and a toast drink.

I'd expect there to he free drinks but that's because it has been the case at birthdays I've attended (or bring your own if allowed). I wouldn't think it was tight or anything. Wouldn't just occur to me. So I'd say tot he guests that you're proving glass of sparkling and x drinks with food but otherwise its a cash bar.

@JeezJerry based on previous threads, its very risky doing a free bar, especially with some that would take the biscuit and ramp up ££

I'd not expect a free bar either, but it would be nice if the hosts offered to get me a drink on arrival.

Like most, I wouldn't expect any free drinks at that sort of party.
I've been to hundreds of parties over the decades, and never, ever come across a free bar, or even free drinks to begin with.

You are already hiring the room, paying for the catering, and the DJ. Guests expect to buy their own drinks.

Could you buy your own drinks and mixers at the supermarket instead of paying the Hall?

Sorry if that’s not legal, I’m teetotal 😊

I wouldn't expect any amount of free drinks at all. Any is generous. I wouldn't worry about anyone thinking you're being tight.

I wouldn’t expect free drinks at all. I think it’s right you’re feeding everyone, but no one would expect an open bar all night.

If you’re worried about costs, could you trim the guest list and then have a more generous bar (assuming no-one has already been invited)? Are all 70 genuinely close friends/family or are a lot of acquaintances, work colleagues etc basically acting as filler?

Really? You'd expect someone to set out to you before a party that you need to bring your own money?

If I’m invited to a party I expect to pay for all my drinks and wouldn’t expect it to even be on the invite.

the only time I would give a free drink at an event is at a wedding, and even then it wouldn’t be a free bar.

I would not expect anything (drinks). I would be happy to be offered a small glass of fizz (or OJ, or combo) on arrival. You have already said it is a buffet (if it a formally seated event, then I would probably expect wine) for a buffet, I would expect nothing. If there were some bottles of wine, some beers, and some soft drinks at the end of the buffet table, then I would think the host very generous. If there was a free bar, I would probably think the host was a) very rich b) slightly unhinged. Hope you have a lovely time xx

Sorry to post again so soon, but if your guests have children (and you have coughed up for additional drinks, it is not unreasonable to ask for a couple of jugs of iced water or diluted juice (paid for) to be placed at the end of the buffet "for the children") Depends on the venue, many do room hire for free, or provide the buffet at a reasonable cost and as part of the deal, they are expecting spend at the bar. This is fair.

The last few big parties I’ve been to have been fully catered, including drinks. I bring a present…often a very nice bottle of something. But yes, that’s how my circle throw parties. And depending on where it was I might not bring my whole handbag…I guess I’d have my phone so I could pay that way but if not then I’d need to bring the necessaries!

no

I would never assume a free bar at a birthday/wedding/any event. It's a nice surprise when there is, or partly is, but I'd not in any way expect it, or consider it tight if there's not one. If you're worried you can put on the invite that there is a paid bar at the venue. That will be useful anyway so that people can make driving arrangements.