Cans or big bottles of soda for a party?

[scrapquitler]

Do you use cans of soda or large bottles of soda for a party? We are having ds's graduation party in a couple weeks and I was all set to find cans of soda on sale. Dh has it in his mind to use large bottles of soda and ice. I think it's a pain to have to scoop ice into a cup and pour soda. The kids spill it all over, one flavor is always more popular and then you run out, etc. I'd rather have cans in coolers. That way they are cold. I could make lemonade too and have small cooler of ice.
What do you all do for your parties?

Two liter bottles.

I don't usually do cans at a big party because people take a can of soda, open it, drink part of it and put it down, then they forget about it and walk away. Then they realize they are thirsty, can't remember which of those soda cans on the picnic table is theirs, so they get another one. A lot gets wasted that way. This is especially true if there will be a lot of kids at the party.

 

[skw444]

I would go with bottles of soda and plastic cups. Keep a Sharpie nearby for folks to write their name on cups.

When canned soda is provided I find that people pick one, open it and take a few sips, put it down, and lose it..... and then go grab another.... and another! It gets so frustrating to be cleaning up after a party emptying can after can of soda that is 3/4 full!

Plus, some folks who are more germaphobic than others prefer to identify their drinks with their name! If it is an outdoor party, may I suggest a kiddie pool full of ice to hold the bottles of soda?? Hope your event is good.....P

Bottles are cheaper than cans and less ends up being wasted.

 

[jcemom]

I prefer to use 2L bottles. As others have suggested, put out a sharpie with the cups. We've done that nay times, and it works.

Kids are especially guilty of leaving a bunch of half full cans everywhere (though adults do it too). They set it down, forget about it, think there might be a bug in it, don't know which can is theirs, it gets warm, etc. So they get another can, and repeat. Plus, I prefer to drink soda from a cup with ice, and don't like drinking from a can.

 

[krcit]

I prefer to use 2L bottles. As others have suggested, put out a sharpie with the cups. We've done that nay times, and it works.

Kids are especially guilty of leaving a bunch of half full cans everywhere (though adults do it too). They set it down, forget about it, think there might be a bug in it, don't know which can is theirs, it gets warm, etc. So they get another can, and repeat. Plus, I prefer to drink soda from a cup with ice, and don't like drinking from a can.

 

[Priorityonecb]

Firstly, we don't drink soda here so we only buy for parties. For parties, we only do cans and bottled water. We recycle both, so it also feels better than having to throw away a bunch of cups.

 

[Swimalie]

We don't normally drink soda here but for parties, we buy the 2 liter bottles. For my son's last birthday party, we bought 4 bottles at $.99 each and got 250 cups, buy 1 get 1 free so 500 cups for about $4. I have a ton of cups left over for future parties. Party City had the buy 1 get 1 free if you want to look there for cups.

For the ice, get a pair of tongs and then people aren't reaching in for ice.

If the party is outside, with cans, bees and other bugs can fly in and people can't see them until it's possibly too late. I got stung by a bee on my lips once in an open can.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Do you use cans of soda or large bottles of soda for a party? We are having ds's graduation party in a couple weeks and I was all set to find cans of soda on sale. Dh has it in his mind to use large bottles of soda and ice. I think it's a pain to have to scoop ice into a cup and pour soda. The kids spill it all over, one flavor is always more popular and then you run out, etc. I'd rather have cans in coolers. That way they are cold. I could make lemonade too and have small cooler of ice.
What do you all do for your parties?

Cans are so wasteful, they are invariably left with some in it and get tossed. I like the bottles because people seem take what they want. I just place ICE separate and it works fine
Congrats to grad!

 

[a1tinkfans]

We don't normally drink soda here but for parties, we buy the 2 liter bottles. For my son's last birthday party, we bought 4 bottles at $.99 each and got 250 cups, buy 1 get 1 free so 500 cups for about $4. I have a ton of cups left over for future parties. Party City had the buy 1 get 1 free if you want to look there for cups.

For the ice, get a pair of tongs and then people aren't reaching in for ice.

If the party is outside, with cans, bees and other bugs can fly in and people can't see them until it's possibly too late. I got stung by a bee on my lips once in an open can.

I bolded!
UGH, awful and even dangerous for some! Unless you use straws......another thing to buy, clean up and deal with...

 

[jjsmom]

Large pitchers of home brewed iced tea should be front and center!! Not sure when your having your party, but check sale flyers for loss leader deals on coke/pepsi 2-ltrs products. buy the generic off brand flavored in the 1 -gal. plastic bottle (grape, orange, punch flavored). I don't think cans are your best bet. Teens have a tendency to abandon them once they get a little warm; or they misplace them and just get an icecold one and you end up with a lot of waste.

 

[Sadie22]

No cans for outdoor parties since I know several people who have been stung when bees have crawled into can openings. I personally prefer single-serve bottles.

 

[dd50]

I used to use cans all the time for parties, but I've since switched to the larger bottles. I was constantly finding 1/2 empty cans everywhere. The kids would grab a drink and put it down. They wouldn't know which drink was theirs, so they would take another. I put out cups and they write their names on the cups with a sharpie.

I have had the same issue at my house. I usually use bottles and my girls write their name on their cup and now it seems that every one does. No more wasted soda. It seems that even when I have cans they use cups and put their name on the cups.

 

[aprilgail2]

CANS! germ freaks like me cringe at the idea of having to scoop ice that is outside with everyones dirty mitts in it lol . and left over cans can be saved open bottles go flat.

I agree--even f they have tongs out people still stick their hands in and grab the ice!
We always get cans- they have sales of 5- 12packs of coke products for 11.00 all the time-- I don't think 11.00 for 60 cans of soda is all that bad!

 

[Planogirl]

Cans! You can find good deals and I think that they are way more convenient and sanitary.

 

[Lori-n-NY]

If you go with 2l bottles, which I am going to do, don't buy 16 oz cups.....that just encourages kids to poor a full cup and they never finish it.
I purchased 10 oz cups. I'm also making a 2 gallon thermos jug of lemonade for the non soda drinkers.

trying to cut some cost where I can.

 

[SandrA9810]

I'm not a finisher of either kind. Get too big of a cup or a 12oz can, and there's usually a 1/4 at the bottom. Mostly because it's too warm in a can, or watered down with ice in a cup.

I would totally go the 8oz can route. Small enough most people won't set them down, and still drink it all because it's still cold.

There's going to be waste no matter which way you choose. And you can still leave a cloth and a sharpie for people to write their names on the top of the can, the cloth to dry the sweat off. Or spend some extra money and buy everyone one of those can coolers and write their name on it as they come in. Keeps their drink cold long enough to finish it, with their name on it.

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

I just had DD's grad party and made this punch
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/luscious-slush-punch/Detail.aspx

and had 2 liter bottles of soda. Everyone drank the punch and I only went through one bottle of regular coke. The punch probably cost less than $5 to make and it make 2 bowls full.

I hate finding the 1/2 cans of warm soda around too!