Guides
Dry-Hire Mobile Bars: What You Buy and What the Bar Team Handles
By BeeHive Mobile Bar ··5 min read
Updated
At a glance
- You purchase alcohol using the tailored shopping list.
- The proposal sets out the bar team’s services and supplies.
- Confirm the menu and responsibilities before shopping.
In this guide
With dry hire, you purchase the alcohol while the bar team provides the agreed services and setup. Confirm responsibilities in the proposal before shopping.
At BeeHive Mobile Bar, alcohol is not included. Clients purchase it using the tailored shopping list included with every service option. Keeping alcohol and bar service as separate budget lines makes the full event cost easier to understand.
What may be included in dry-hire service?
Always review the proposal carefully because inclusions vary by provider and package. BeeHive's Bronze, Silver, and Gold mobile-bar packages include professional bartending, a portable bar, menu planning, signature cocktails, mixers, ice, coolers, plastic glassware, a shopping list, and the garnishes listed for the selected tier.
Custom alcohol-free mocktails can be discussed during menu planning. These three mobile-bar packages have a three-hour minimum.
Bartender-only service starts at $350 for a two-hour minimum, with each additional hour at $75. It includes professional bartending, bar tools, a tailored shopping list, setup, and cleanup.
Confirm any additional equipment or supplies in its proposal. Alcohol remains the host's purchase.
| Host purchase | Coordinate with the bar team |
|---|---|
| Spirits, wine, beer, sparkling wine, and any alcohol for cocktails | Final quantities, bottle sizes, and menu recipes |
| Venue-required permits or approvals, if any | Venue access, setup time, and service schedule |
| Specialty alcoholic ingredients | Which mixers, garnishes, ice, or glassware are included |
Finalize the menu before purchasing
Choose a short, appealing menu before buying alcohol. Two signature cocktails, a familiar beer or wine option, nonalcoholic choices, and water can be easier to purchase and serve than a long list of one-off drinks. If a champagne toast is part of the plan, use the champagne toast calculator as a planning aid. Discuss food quantities with your caterer so the bar and meal plans work together.
Tell your bar team about dietary needs, a zero-proof option, color theme, and any cocktails you love early. Menu consultation is included with Bronze and Silver, and Gold offers a fully custom cocktail menu. For bartender-only service, confirm any menu development beyond the tailored shopping list in your proposal.
A dry-hire purchase checklist
- Confirm the final guest count and service hours.
- Review the tailored shopping list after the menu is settled.
- Check what your chosen package supplies before buying mixers, ice, or soft drinks.
- Confirm where alcohol can be delivered, stored, and staged at the venue.
- Keep receipts and a simple inventory list for whoever will receive the purchase.
Quantity calculators are estimates, not guarantees. Consumption changes with event length, weather, meal timing, drink strength, and how many guests choose nonalcoholic beverages. Use the alcohol calculator to form a starting list, then review it with the team serving your event.
Book with clarity
A 25% deposit confirms the booking. Your proposal will include the remaining balance and payment deadline. Share your date, guest count, location, service window, and menu direction when you request a quote. For a side-by-side view of the current service tiers, visit packages.
Dry hire works best when responsibilities are clearly divided. The host purchases the alcohol, and the bar proposal explains the services and supplies included in the package. For a broader backyard setup, read backyard party bar ideas.
Worked example: a hosted dinner
A host plans a four-hour dinner gathering for 40 people. They choose two signature cocktails, one mocktail, wine, and water. Before buying anything, they review the menu and tailored shopping list with the bar team. The list identifies alcohol the host will buy and nonalcohol items already included in the selected service. That prevents duplicate cases of mixers or a last-minute shortage of an ingredient needed for the signatures.
The host also asks the venue or property owner where alcohol can be delivered, how it will be stored, and who can receive it. If the gathering is at a venue, the host confirms that the proposed alcohol arrangement is permitted. California requirements vary by event and venue; a dry-hire arrangement does not replace venue approval or any required licensing. California ABC publishes a licensing FAQ, but the event’s venue and appropriate authority should confirm the specific arrangement.
Final dry-hire check
Record the delivery time, the person receiving the order, the storage location, the final menu, and one day-of contact. Compare the package inclusions with the shopping list one final time. This quick review can catch a missing bottle, a duplicate mixer purchase, or an unanswered venue question before the event.
Share the final checklist with everyone involved in setup and service so the team is working from the same plan.
Dry-hire questions answered
Does dry hire mean alcohol is included?
No. With BeeHive, the host purchases the alcohol. Our team plans and provides the services listed in the selected package.
Can a dry-hire bar still provide a complete experience?
Yes, when the menu, shopping list, service hours, and package inclusions are settled together. Guests enjoy a complete bar experience while the purchasing and service responsibilities remain clear.
When should we buy alcohol?
After the menu and guest estimate are confirmed, leaving enough time to coordinate delivery and storage.
