What to buy for Christmas drinks

A Christmas drinks event needs more than bottles and snacks. You will also need enough glasses, serving dishes, coffee equipment, chilled storage and somewhere for guests to leave coats. Start with the final guest count, then check dietary requirements before ordering food and drinks. The list below covers the practical items that are easy to overlook, from extra water glasses and serving tongs to extension cords for lights and the coffee station.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 55
Buffet tablesqty 3
Coat racksqty 2
Waste binsqty 4

Tableware

Wine glassesqty 60
Beer glassesqty 60
Water glassesqty 60
Coffee cupsqty 50
Platesqty 70
Cutlery setsqty 70
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving trays with lidsqty 4
Serving tongsqty 8
Carafesqty 6

Decorations

Christmas tree
Christmas baublesqty 50
Christmas garlandsqty 6
Christmas wreathsqty 2
Table runnersqty 8
Christmas table decorationqty 8

Equipment

Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Hot drink urnsqty 4
Coolersqty 4
Bluetooth speaker
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 4

Lighting

String lightsqty 6
LED candlesqty 24

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knifeqty 3
Bread knivesqty 2
Small bowlsqty 12
Ice bucketsqty 3

Cleaning

Vacuum cleaner
Mop set
Bucketsqty 2
Broom and dustpan
Cleaning clothsqty 12

Catering

Groceries
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Mini bake-off rolls - 60 pieces
- Butter - 500 grams
- Cream cheese - 1 kilogram
- Hummus - 1 kilogram
- Brie - 1,5 kilogram
- Aged cheese - 1.5 kilograms
- Goat cheese - 750 grams
- Grapes - 3 kilograms
- Apples - 30 pieces
- Pears - 20 pieces
- Mandarins - 30 pieces
- Cucumber - 6 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilograms
- Bell peppers - 10 pieces
- Carrots - 2 kilogram
- Celery - 2 heads
- Olives - 1 kilogram
- Sun-dried tomatoes - 500 grams
- Nut mix - 1,5 kilogram
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Snacks - 4 bags
- Mini quiches - 60 pieces
- Vegetarian puff pastry bites - 60 pieces
- Bitterballen - 100 pieces
- Vegetarian bitterballen - 50 pieces
- Mini pizzas - 50 pieces
- Christmas cookies - 100 pieces
- Christmas stollen - 3 pieces
- Brownies - 50 pieces
- Whipped cream - 2 liters
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Ginger ale - 4 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 8 bottles
- Spa Rood - 6 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 packs
- Orange juice - 4 cartons
- Non-alcoholic beer - 30 bottles
- Pilsner - 80 bottles
- White wine - 12 bottles
- Red wine - 10 bottles
- Rosé - 6 bottles
- Prosecco - 8 bottles
- Bitter lemon - 3 bottles
- Tonic - 3 bottles
- Ginger beer - 3 bottles
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Hot chocolate - 5 liters
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Lemons - 12 pieces
- Limes - 12 pieces
- Mint - 6 bunches
- Ice cubes - 15 kilograms
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Garlic sauce - 2 bottles
- Satay sauce - 2 jars
- Cocktail sauce - 2 bottles
- Napkins - 200 pieces
- Paper Plates - 100 pieces
- Coffee filters - 1 pack
- Teaspoons - 100 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 50 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Toilet cleaner - 2 bottles
- Hand soap - 4 bottles

Tips

Plan around two to three alcoholic drinks per guest for the first hour, then one to two drinks per person for each additional hour. Add non-alcoholic options and water for every guest, not only for drivers.
Buy or borrow at least one drinking glass per guest, plus roughly 10% extra for breakages and glasses left around the venue. Keep wine, beer and water glasses separate so the bar does not run short.
Allow one plate and one cutlery set per guest, then add 10% spare. For snacks and pastries, prepare at least two serving platters and provide serving tongs so guests do not use their hands.
Do not leave coffee and tea equipment until the event day. Check that the coffee machines, kettles or hot drink urns have enough capacity for the guest count, and test extension cords and power strips before decorating.
Arrange chilled storage before the shopping trip. Coolers or another cold-storage solution should be ready when the drinks arrive; also buy or prepare clearly accessible water and place waste bins where guests can see them.

Frequently asked questions

How many drinks should I buy for a Christmas drinks party?: For the first hour, allow two to three drinks per guest, followed by one to two drinks per person for every additional hour. Include water and non-alcoholic drinks in the total plan, and add about 10% extra if the guest count is uncertain.
How many glasses do I need for Christmas drinks?: Plan one glass per guest for each drink type you are serving, plus 10% spare. For example, 30 guests need at least 33 wine glasses if wine is served, and the same approach applies to beer and water glasses.
How much food should I buy for Christmas drinks?: For drinks with light snacks, plan around six to eight small bites per guest for a two-hour gathering. Increase this to 10 to 12 pieces per person if the event replaces a meal, and check dietary requirements before ordering.
When should I buy and chill drinks for Christmas drinks?: Order drinks and groceries at least three to five days before the event, especially if the guest count is still being confirmed. Move drinks into coolers or other chilled storage several hours before guests arrive so everything is cold without a last-minute rush.

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