How to Write a Drinks Rider: Telling the Venue What Your Band Drinks
The RoadCase crew · Updated 24 Sept 2026 · 6 min read
A drinks rider is a short list of the drinks your band would like the venue to have ready on show day. It is usually one part of your hospitality rider, and the best ones are short, clear and easy for the venue to fill.
This guide covers what to ask for, how much to ask for, and what to check with the venue first. We will use a made-up four-piece called The Night Shift as the example.
Start with water
Water is the most important line on any drinks rider. You sing, you sweat, you load gear in and out. Nobody plays well when they are thirsty.
Put water at the top of the list. Say whether you want still or sparkling, and whether you want it cold. If you care about waste, ask if the venue has a tap or water station you can use with your own bottles. Many venues are happy to help with this.
It also helps to ask for water on stage, not just in the green room. A bottle by each player's spot saves someone running off during the set.
Add non-alcoholic options
Not everyone drinks alcohol, and not everyone drinks before a show. A good drinks rider always has real options for people who do not drink.
Think beyond soft drink. Some ideas:
- Juice or sparkling juice
- Iced tea or kombucha
- Alcohol-free beer or wine
- Tea and coffee, if there is a kettle or machine
- Electrolyte drinks for hot rooms or long sets
Write these as proper lines on the rider, not as an afterthought at the bottom. It tells the venue this matters to you.
Sober band members
If someone in the band is sober, you do not need to explain why. You can simply list their drinks the same way you list everyone else's. Some bands also ask that the green room is not stocked with a pile of alcohol. That is a fair request. Keep it short and polite, and the venue will usually work with you.
Be specific, but flexible
The venue can only give you what you ask for. "Some beer" is hard to fill. "A six-pack of local lager or similar" is easy.
Here is how The Night Shift writes theirs:
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Still water | Cold, in the green room and on stage |
| Sparkling water | Cold |
| Alcohol-free beer | Any brand |
| Local lager or similar | Cold |
| Juice | Orange or apple, or similar |
| Tea and coffee | If the venue has a kettle |
The words "or similar" do a lot of work. They tell the venue that a close swap is fine. A bar manager who cannot find one brand will not panic, and you still get a cold drink.
Only name an exact brand when it really matters. For example, a singer might have one throat-friendly tea they always use. If so, it may be easier to bring that yourself.
How much to ask for
There is no fixed amount that suits every band. Instead of copying a number from someone else's rider, work it out from your own show.
Think about:
- Headcount. Count the band and any crew who travel with you. A four-piece with a sound engineer is five people, not four.
- How long you are there. A band that loads in early and stays for the headliner needs more than a band that plays and leaves.
- The weather and the room. Hot rooms and outdoor stages mean more water.
- What people actually drink. Ask the band. Do not guess.
Start small. It is better to ask for a little and have it all used than to ask for a lot and leave half of it behind. Venues notice waste, and they remember bands who ask for sensible amounts.
If you play a lot of shows, keep notes on what gets used. After a few gigs you will know what your band really needs, and you can adjust your rider.
Drink tickets vs a rider
Many venues, especially smaller ones, do not stock a green room. They give the band drink tickets instead. Each ticket is swapped at the bar for a drink.
Neither one is better. They just work differently.
- A rider means drinks are ready when you arrive. It suits long days with an early load in.
- Drink tickets mean each person gets what they want, when they want it. They suit short sets and busy nights.
Some venues do a mix of both. Ask the venue what they usually do before you send a long list. If they only do drink tickets, a short note asking for water on stage is often all you need.
Responsible service and licensing
Venues that serve alcohol have to follow licensing rules and responsible service of alcohol rules. These rules are different from place to place. They can change what a venue is allowed to serve, where drinks can go and who can have them.
You do not need to know the rules yourself. The venue does. Just keep in mind:
- Your drinks rider is a request, not a demand. The venue may need to change it.
- Some venues cannot let drinks leave a certain area, such as the green room or the stage.
- Some venues cannot put alcohol in a room where under-18s are present.
If you are not sure what applies, ask the venue or check with the promoter. They deal with this every night.
Under-18 band members
If anyone in your band is under 18, tell the venue early. Put it in your first email when you advance the show, not on the night.
Some venues have rules about where under-18 performers can be, how long they can stay and who needs to be with them. Some shows may not suit an under-18 member at all. The venue or promoter can tell you what they need from you.
On the rider itself, list the under-18 member's drinks like anyone else's, with non-alcoholic options only. Keep it simple and matter-of-fact.
Where the drinks rider goes
Your drinks rider usually sits inside your hospitality rider, next to food and green room notes. It should not be mixed into your tech rider, because a different person usually reads each one. The production manager reads the tech rider. The bar or venue manager reads the hospitality one.
Keep it to one short section with a clear heading. A table like the one above is easy to scan on a busy day.
If you want a head start, the hospitality rider builder lays out drinks, food and green room notes for you. RoadCase keeps each section short so venues can actually read it.
A quick checklist
Before you send your drinks rider, check that it:
- Puts water first, on stage and in the green room
- Has real non-alcoholic options
- Uses "or similar" for anything that is not important
- Asks for sensible amounts based on your headcount
- Mentions any under-18 or sober band members
- Is a request, and says thank you
A short, polite drinks rider is easy for a venue to say yes to. That is the whole point.
Questions bands ask
What is a drinks rider?
A drinks rider is a short list of the drinks your band would like at a show. It usually sits inside your hospitality rider. It tells the venue what to have in the green room so nobody has to go looking on the night.
Can a small band ask for a drinks rider?
Yes. Keep it short and polite, and put water first. Many smaller venues offer drink tickets instead of a rider, so ask what they usually do before you send a long list.
What does 'or similar' mean on a rider?
It tells the venue you are happy with a close swap if they cannot get the exact brand. It makes your rider easier to fill and shows you are easy to work with.
What if someone in the band is under 18?
Tell the venue before the show. Some venues have rules about under-18 performers, where they can wait and what they can be served. The venue or promoter can tell you what applies to them.