Also think about the type of drink token you want to use. Are only drinks available? Then choose a Good for one drink token. Is there a wider range of items available? Maybe a token with a different design, for example a beer and wine token or numbered token, gives more clarity.
How many tokens do you need for your event?
Are you planning a party, get-together, or festival? Cashless events are becoming more populair. Tokens make paying easier, saver and faster for both visitors and bar staff. But how many tokens do you actually need? We share pratical tips for your event.
Summary
Check the table below for a quick overview
|
Type of event |
Duration |
Average consumption p.p |
|
Small party or drinks reception |
2 to 4 hours |
2 to 4 drinks |
|
Neighborhood party or small festival |
3 to 5 hours |
3 to 5 drinks |
|
Large festival (halve day) |
4 to 6 hours |
5 to 8 drinks |
|
Large festival (full day) |
8 to 10 hours |
8 to 12 drinks |
How many tokens do you need?
The number of tokens you need depends on the type of event and how long it lasts. For a small party or drinks reception lasting a few hours, 3 to 5 tokens per person is usually enough. Organizing a neighborhood party or small festival? In that case, people typically need a bit more: an average of 5 to 7 tokens per person. There is usually more food and drinks available, and the atmosphere encourages people to hop to the bar more often.
For a large festival or event, the number of tokens per person increases. For a time slot of around 4 to 6 hours, you can expect an average of 6 to 10 tokens per person. If someone attends for a full day, this can easily rise to 12 to 16 tokens per person, especially if cocktails or full meals are available. Always order 10 to 20 percent extra tokens for unexpected guests or higher-than-average usage. This helps you avoid running out.
Tips to keep it smooth
At CombiCraft you find all kinds of tokens for any event. Follow these tips to keep everything running smoothly and every glass filled.
Tip 1: Costs per drink
Decide in advance how many tokens you want to charge per drink or dish, and communicate this clearly at every bar. That way, visitors know exactly what to expect and everything stays easy to manage. For example:
- Standard drinks: 1 token for soda, beer, or wine
- Premium alcoholic drinks: 2 tokens for craft beers or wines
- Small snacks: 2 to 3 tokens for hot or cold snacks
- Cocktails or full meals: 2 to 4 tokens
Based on your audience, you can estimate how many tokens you need in total. Younger visitors or festival crowds tend to drink more, while families or corporate event guests often go for more snacks and less alcohol. Planning this ahead of time helps prevent shortages and keeps things running smoothly behind the bar.
Tip 2: Temporary open bar
At some events, it works well to offer a temporary open bar by giving guests a fixed number of tokens. After these are used, guests can continue at their own expense. This approach is common at corporate events and weddings.
A temporary open bar helps control costs and limits excessive alcohol consumption, while still giving guests the feeling of being treated. When planning your event, factor this into the total number of tokens you order, so you don’t end up with too many or too few.
Tip 3: Token style
Breakable tokens are also useful if you want to charge half tokens or 1.5 tokens for a drink or snack. They can be snapped in half easily and are clear for both visitors and bar staff. Choose the type of token that best matches your food and drink offering.
Tip 4: Keep everything organized
Use stackable counting trays for tokens. These make issuing and counting tokens much easier and reduce the risk of counting errors at the bar. Each tray has multiple compartments, each holding 10 tokens, with space for up to 1,000 tokens per tray. The trays with tokens can also be stacked neatly, saving space and time.
