PartyCalcs.uk
Non-Alcoholic Drinks Calculator — Soft Drinks Planning
Plan soft drinks, juice, water, and squash quantities for your event.
How We Calculate This
This calculator estimates soft drink quantities for both non-drinkers and alcohol drinkers.
The formula
Non-drinker soft drinks = non-drinkers × hours × 400 ml
Alcohol drinker soft drinks = drinkers × hours × 150 ml
Total soft drinks are split into water (30%), juice (25%), fizzy drinks (25%), and squash/cordial (20%). The first three are rounded up and squash takes the remainder, so the four categories always add up to the headline total.
Rates are based on UK caterer and bar-hire guidance: roughly 1–2 soft drinks (≈ 240–400 ml) per person per hour, around 20–25% of UK adults being teetotal or moderating (with a 30% default to cover designated drivers too), and a typical event mix of water, juice, fizzy drinks and squash. Figures are rounded up for safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plan for about 400 ml per hour per non-drinker, which is roughly 2 glasses or cups per hour. This includes water, juice, and fizzy drinks. For a 4-hour party, that is about 1.6 litres per non-drinker. This sits at the upper end of UK caterer guidance of 1–2 soft drinks per person per hour.
Yes — alcohol drinkers also need water and soft drinks. Plan for about 150 ml per hour per alcohol drinker for water, mixers they drink between alcoholic drinks, and rehydration.
Offer a variety: still and sparkling water, orange juice, apple juice, cola, lemonade, and squash or cordial. For adults, consider mocktails, elderflower pressé, or premium soft drinks.
Water should make up about 30% of your soft drink provision. Have both still and sparkling available. In warm weather or for outdoor events, increase water to 40% and have it easily accessible.
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Last updated: February 2026
All calculations are estimates. Adjust quantities based on your guests and event type.