What you need for Christmas drinks

This Christmas drinks shopping list covers the items people often forget until guests are arriving: enough glassware, serving pieces, cooling space and coffee supplies. Plan quantities from your final guest count, then add a small buffer for breakages and refills. You will also need practical equipment for the drinks station, buffet and music setup. Check dietary requirements before buying snacks, and prepare allergen labels alongside the food.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Foldable tablesqty 6
Chairsqty 50
Buffet tablesqty 2
Bar stoolsqty 6

Tableware

Dinner platesqty 60
Dessert platesqty 60
Wine glassesqty 60
Beer glassesqty 50
Water glassesqty 60
Coffee cupsqty 40
Coffee spoonsqty 40
Forksqty 60
Knivesqty 60
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving tongsqty 6
Serving spoonsqty 6

Decorations

Christmas tree
Christmas baublesqty 40
Garlandsqty 4
Tableclothsqty 8
Christmas arrangementsqty 6
Name badgesqty 50
Table numbersqty 6

Lighting

String lightsqty 4
LED candlesqty 20

Equipment

Bluetooth speaker
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 4
Coolersqty 3

Kitchen

Coffee makerqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Thermos flasksqty 4
Ice cube traysqty 4
Cutting boardsqty 3
Kitchen knivesqty 3
Serving plattersqty 12
Drink dispensersqty 2

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 4
Dustpan and brushqty 2
Mopsqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Mini bake-off rolls - 60 pieces
- Butter - 500 grams
- Cream cheese - 1 kilogram
- Hummus - 1 kilogram
- Brie - 1 kilogram
- Gouda cheese - 1.5 kilogram
- Blue cheese - 500 grams
- Goat cheese - 500 grams
- Vegan cheese - 500 grams
- Parma ham - 500 gram
- Salami - 500 grams
- Smoked chicken breast - 750 grams
- Falafel - 1 kilogram
- Olives - 1 kilogram
- Sun-dried tomatoes - 500 grams
- Grapes - 2 kilogram
- Apples - 2 kilograms
- Mandarins - 2 kilograms
- Figs - 500 grams
- Walnuts - 500 gram
- Almonds - 500 grams
- Salted peanuts - 500 grams
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Tortilla chips - 4 bags
- Mixed bar snacks - 1 kilogram
- Crackers - 6 packs
- Puff pastry snacks - 100 pieces
- Mini quiches - 60 pieces
- Bitterballen - 100 pieces
- Vegan bitterballen - 40 pieces
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Mayonnaise - 2 jars
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Garlic sauce - 2 bottles
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 8 bottles
- Sinas - 6 bottles
- Bitter lemon - 4 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 12 bottles
- Spa Rood - 8 bottles
- Tonic - 4 bottles
- Ginger ale - 4 bottles
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- Pilsner - 72 bottles
- Red wine - 12 bottles
- White wine - 12 bottles
- Rosé - 6 bottles
- Prosecco - 8 bottles
- Jenever - 1 bottle
- Vodka - 1 bottle
- Coffee - 2 kilograms
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Hot chocolate - 6 liters
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Honey - 1 jar
- Whipped cream - 6 cans
- Cinnamon - 2 jars
- Speculaas spice mix - 1 jar
- Marshmallows - 4 bags
- Christmas cookies - 6 packs
- Brownies - 60
- Mini Christmas loaves - 40 pieces
- Lemons - 8 pieces
- Limes - 8 pieces
- Fresh mint - 4 bunches
- Cocktail sticks - 2 boxes
- Paper napkins - 6 packs
- Paper cups - 50 pieces
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Trash bags - 4 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Hand soap - 4 bottles

Tips

Count glasses by type before shopping: provide at least one wine glass, beer glass and water glass per guest, plus 10–15% extra for busy drinks stations.
Allow enough cooling capacity for the full first round of drinks. Put coolers and refrigerators in place before shopping so you know how much can be chilled at once.
Buy or gather serving platters, tongs and serving spoons before preparing snacks. Three to four platters are a useful starting point for a small Christmas drinks gathering, but match this to your final guest count.
Do not leave coffee supplies until the end of the evening. Set aside coffee cups, teaspoons, a coffee maker and water before guests arrive, and plan on one cup per guest who is likely to stay for coffee.
Test string lights, LED candles, the Bluetooth speaker, extension cords and power strips at least one day before the event. Bring spare batteries or a backup light if the venue has dark corners.

Frequently asked questions

How many glasses do I need for Christmas drinks?: Start with one wine glass, beer glass and water glass per guest, then add 10–15% extra. For 20 guests, that means at least 22 of each glass type if all three drinks will be served.
How much food should I buy for Christmas drinks?: For a drinks-only gathering, plan about 6–8 savoury bites per guest for the first two hours, plus extra for longer events. Confirm the final guest number and dietary requirements before buying snacks.
When should I buy and chill drinks for Christmas drinks?: Do the main shopping 1–2 days beforehand and chill drinks on the day, allowing at least 4 hours for bottles and cans to cool properly. Use coolers for overflow rather than relying on one refrigerator.
What do people usually forget for a Christmas drinks party?: Commonly missed items are water glasses, serving tongs, allergen labels, coffee spoons, extension cords and enough table space for the buffet. Check these at least 24 hours before guests arrive.

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