Selecting Beverages for a Gathering: A Guide
If a party invitation requests that you supply drinks, the occasion's nature—whether it's a kids' celebration, a daytime get-together, or an evening affair—will shape what you should pick up. Hosts sometimes use the term "BYOB" on invitations to signal that attendees should provide their own alcoholic beverages.
By Blake Williams
Margaritas are fun to bring to a Mexican-themed party.
Receiving a party invitation can come with a request to supply beverages. An invitation marked "BYOB" signals that the host expects attendees to provide their own bottle, meaning an alcoholic drink. Which drinks make sense to bring tends to depend on what kind of party it is.
Non-Alcoholic Choices
For celebrations involving children or teenagers, soft drinks tend to be the more suitable option compared with alcohol. Should you be asked to supply beverages for such an event, plan on bringing a shareable amount of soda, lemonade, fruit punch, or sweetened iced tea. There is no need to cover the whole party's needs; supplying enough for yourself, anyone you brought along, and a handful of other attendees is generally considered appropriate. A pair of 2-liter bottles or a six-pack of soda typically suffices for an event lasting around two hours.
Beer and Wine
When the host or invitation calls for an alcoholic beverage, choose something that you and your companion enjoy drinking. Be sure to bring a quantity that covers both of you plus some extra to share. A single beer counts as one serving, while a bottle of wine provides roughly four to five servings. As a rough pattern, people often have about two drinks during the party's first hour and one additional drink per hour after that. Daytime gatherings lend themselves to beer and to lighter, flexible wines such as rieslings, sauvignon blancs, and white zinfandels. Evening events tend to see chardonnays, cabernet sauvignons, and merlots as favorites among most wine drinkers. If the drinks will accompany dinner, check with the host about which wine he prefers. Box wines are best reserved for very casual get-togethers, whereas more formal parties may call for higher quality wines.
Mixed Alcoholic Drinks
Should the party follow a theme, mixed drinks can be a fitting choice. That might mean tequila and margarita mix for a "Taste of Tijuana" party, or gin, vodka, and vermouth for martinis at a "New York, New York" soiree. As before, bring enough for yourself, your guest, and a few others. Unless the host has specifically asked you to supply drinks for the entire party, other attendees will be contributing beverages too. Opt for high quality alcohol when your budget allows. Remember to pack any garnishes the drinks require, such as salt, limes, olives, or maraschino cherries.
Additional Items
If you are bringing your own drinks, it is worth asking the host whether an extra bag of ice would be useful. When space is tight, a small cooler can help keep the drinks cold.
