What / how much alcohol would you provide for teen "party"?

[UserAtRandom]

As per title really. DS has requested that there is "a bit of" alcohol at his upcoming birthday "party" (due to Covid restrictions = a few of them in the garden). I've checked with all the parents - all are fine with it.

They are all 17. I have no idea what sort of alcohol teenage boys drink and how much is a sensible amount to offer up? So advice from seasoned parents of teens is very welcome!

I did this recently for DS - all boys - they liked fruit cider best. Not keen on beer.
I didn’t supply any spirits, but this age like Smirnoff Ice and WKD which is about same abv as beer/cider. It’s what I supplied for a mixed pre-pandemic 17th, but a bottle of vodka was found hidden in the kitchen so they got it anyway!!
My tip
Is also watch out for weed smells drifting in...

As coffee says get some beers and ciders in. They will probably sneak something else in.

I have no idea what sort of alcohol teenage boys drink

Not what you want to hear, but I expect they will rock up with bottles of vodka "water" or "squash" and want some coke or lemonade. Fruit ciders were popular with DD’s friends.

My mum used to allow beer and wine, but put her foot down about spirits.
I agree about providing some stomach lining food. Pizza always goes down well.

If you are providing a bin full of beer in water/ice, get some of the same 0% alcohol ones as well to mix in with them. When the labels come off, just scoop them out of the iced water and the kids will drink the 0% ones as well quite happily without realising. Do this before they arrive, leaving some of the normal strength labels still on the bottles or floating in the water

That is a brilliant idea @BigusBumus.
I pretty much left DD and her friends to it, but when guests arrived I specified that all bodily fluids should be expelled into the downstairs loo, and anyone caught doing otherwise would be asked to leave.

None

I fully expect 17 yr olds to drink some alcohol at parties, but they bring it themselves.
That way they are in control of what they bring and what they want to drink and aren't under any pressure to drink what they might not like or want to have.
Also, you are not providing minors with alcohol.
I would provide a load of lemonade / coke and a shed load of pizzas (or other food) a few hours in.