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’d never expect free drinks at a party. A welcome drink or some money behind bar would be nice though,

I wouldn't expect a free bar but it's polite to warn people that's there is a cash bar on the invitation and state if cards are taken or not - I've turned up at an event and they had no card machine, miles from anywhere (everyone was camping overnight) which caused lots of issues as most of us didn't have cash with us

when DH had a similar party we were going to provide soft drinks, wine and beer but they would have to pay for anything else. But then we realised it wouldn't add much (because 50 guests and none of them are the type of person to take the piss) so we made the bar completely free.
And in the end it was only about 3 or 4 G&Ts that we paid for.

You could ask the bar to privide, say, x bottles of Gin/whisky/vodka and say after they're gone people pay?

There's various ways you can do this.

First drink free

Wine and beer free all night but anything else has to be paid for

Glass of fizz on arrival

Oh and I wouldn't expect a free bar all night...

I went to a relative's 60th party recently and the bar drinks were extortionately priced. I would have appreciated a free drink on arrival as we'd made the effort to travel there, but no more than that

I would never expect a free bar and have never attended a party, funeral, wedding etc with a free bar.

Well if that's just how you roll then 🤣 unheard of to turn up at parties and expect to not pay for a thing, but if that's how your circle do it then 🤷‍♀️

I wouldn't expect a free bar. Personally I think a limited one can (some) make people who realise it's limited greedy. I'd do welcome drinks / toast drink only personally

I would do a round of Prosecco or alternative non-alcoholic option (I like raspberry lemonade, but elderflower looks more the part) with cake if you are having one or at another “moment” (shortly after arrival, say, or for speeches).

Leave guests to sort themselves out for the rest - make it clear on the invites that this is the setup. I don’t think money behind the bar is reasonable, as it’s not fair on anyone who gets stuck in traffic or similar and arrives a little late through no fault of their own only to find that the money has run out.

Sorry about your daughter

I wouldn't expect a free bar at all. I've been to a few similar events recently. Most were 'pay for your own drinks' but a few have put money behind the bar so the first drink was on the hosts (which is a nice gesture if you can afford it but absolutely don't feel you have to).

No-one will expect a free bar. In fact I’ve never been to a party with money behind the bar at all. Normally buy all own drinks so very generous to put some behind the bar at all. Enjoy

I disagree where I am in the UK food woukd definitely be expected at a party, but guests would expect to pay for drinks.

Agree @RedHelenB

I wouldn't expect you to pay for drinks from the bar at all, and I wouldn't expect to be warned of that.

Would always expect to be fed unless told otherwise beforehand, and never been provided with a drink at a party with a cash bar unless it’s a wedding.

People don’t tend to do speeches/toasts at parties I’ve been to though, it’s a little self absorbed for my ‘circle’ 🤣 if I paid for the drinks I might expect people to toast me though!

Never had a free bar and never been to one! Always paid

I've never been anywhere that had a free bar and definitely wouldn't expect one at your party. Let people buy their own drinks.

No wouldn’t expect a free bar. And expect some people to take the piss if you do provide one.