I’m a woman who prefers beer: as long as there’s something better than Coors/Budweiser/Miller around, I’ll be happy. I recently started experimenting with wine, though, so I’d probably also be happy with some red. But if there’s both and the beer is a brand I usually drink, I’ll go with that.
Man: I like whiskey/Scotch (straight up or on the rocks) the best, followed by beer. Occasionally I’ll have a mixed drink or wine. The main problem with beer is that my stomach isn’t big enough to hold enough beer to get a good buzz going. Whiskey is much more efficient.
That’s me exactly. I’m pretty much the stereotype of a weak drinker. The more colorful the cocktail, the better.
I voted beer and plus-other - I like non-alcoholic drinks too.
I prefer wine, but I drink in context - watching a hockey game, I’ll have a beer. Out for dinner with the girls from work, maybe a mixed drink.
I can’t say what I’d drink “at a party” because every party is different, but all things being equal, if you lined all the options up in front of me at a Christmas party, I’d have a glass of red wine.
When I have people over, I usually stock a couple bottles of red and white wine, and a case of beer. People will drink what’s available. Nobody has ever seemed upset about not having tequila around, but then, my friends aren’t really drinkers.
Male, mixed drinks. Also, like Taomist, I like mead, but I don’t expect anyone but me to provide it except at themed events.
I drink wine, but I’m weirdly picky about it, so most wines that people would serve at a party are unlikely to suit me. (It’s not wine snobbery–I’m as apt to drink wine from a screw-cap bottle as a corked one. I just like my wine sweet, and with certain flavor elements. Eiswein always gets my attention, but like mead, it’s not something I expect anyone to serve.)
I don’t think gender is sufficiently determinate to make this call. I’ve known girls who prefer to drink rotgut liquor straight from the bottle, and guys who prefer to drink “girly” mixed drinks. Just try to have a nice mix of beer, wine, hard liquor, and soda–that way, nobody is likely to bitch (especially if the booze is free!). Just because I prefer to drink warm jager at home doesn’t mean I’d turn down a nice martini or rum and coke or glass of wine at your party.
I drink alcoholic beverages very little, but when I do, I drink Scotch or bourbon, because I like the taste. Wine rarely pleases me, and I find beer actively unpleasant.
Female. Back in my drinking days I liked mixed drinks; particularly fuzzy navels and screwdrivers.
Never tried beer. Tried wine once, hated it. Tried bourbon once and hurled immediately.
Love good beer, love good wine. But because I have issues with yeast, I have to rule both those out of my life now. Good single malt scotch is my choice but if it is going to be a long evening, I settle for scotch and water.
In summer warmth, I like mixed drinks but in winter, scotch is the only choice.
Female here making third vote for mead. Why did mead ever go away anyhow?
Otherwise, mixed drinks all the way for me. Don’t like beer. I can drink wine, but I don’t go nuts over it.
I love all that, plus a big bowl of punch. But I’m drinking too much these days so I’m not certain I’m a reliable subject.
For mixed drinks, I’d rather just have the big 5 (vodka, gin, tequila, rum, whisk(e)y) and sodas/juices/mixers rather than prepped mixed beverages, except the punch. Punch of course needs to be pre-made.
Female - I like to drink club soda and a little bit of fruit juice. No, I don’t ever expect anyone to provide it. 
Male - I’m one of those rare people who genuinely doesn’t like beer. It doesn’t appeal to me; I don’t like the way it tastes, and if I’m out on the lash with friends, I don’t like how heavy it sits in my stomach. Also, I sometimes get beer-jaw, and it feels all funky at the edges of my mouth. (no better way to explain it than that).
Wine I can drink with food, and mixed drinks I enjoy sometimes, but for my money there’s nothing better than some good liquor - preffo. rum or tequila - served over ice cubes. Keep it simple!
I like all of the above–just not all at once. I’d be tempted to stick with good beer & wine. If there’s hard liquor, I’d suggest a bartender (paid or not) to keep things moderate.
Surely you’ve considered this–but you really need to balance the alcohol with food–more than pretzels, especially if you’re serving the hard stuff. And plenty of non-alcoholic beverages; for the non-drinkers, of course–but also for the drinkers who want to pace themselves…
Female here.
To be honest, I like having non-alcoholic options. I like one or two drinks but after that I want non-alcohol. I like drink but I don’t like being drunk.
I think about the only way to annoy me is to push overly sweet “girly” drinks on me under the assumption that, being female, that’s what I like. I happen to like beer, straight whiskey, and with mixed drinks I lean towards the somewhat sour/bitter. Also, don’t assume I drink only white wine because I’m a girl - I actually prefer reds (though I won’t turn down a good white).
Methinks your best option is to make a range available and don’t make assumptions. Beer of some sort seems to be a requirement these days if you do serve alcohol, if you have wine have something that is neither too sweet nor too dry, and have a mixer or two.
I voted mixed drinks because I don’t know what kind of wine you have in mind. If you’re serving Berenger Zinfandel, no thanks, I’ll take a Jack & coke or something. If you’re serving a lovely decanted Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley, I’m down for the pinot.
Upon preview, also, what Broomstick said. In addition to what she said, my choice of whether or not I want wine will not only depend on what kind of wine, but also on what kind of food is being served. Pizza and nachos? That actually calls for beer. Shrimp kebobs? Oh, a nice Pinot Grigio might work out. Burgers and dogs? Beer again. Steaks? Back to that pinot noir or possibly a cabernet sauvignon if you have a good year open.
Thanks for the voting and all of the responses!
So far, it sounds like all you need for a successful party (in terms of alcoholic beverages) is LOTS of beer and a decent selection of mixed drinks. No need to buy cases of wine (maybe a bottle or two) and forget buying top shelf liquor for shots - let them use some of the booze for the mixes.
I will be honest and admit I thought wine would be far more popular - and somewhat sexist of me, also incorrectly assumed women would far prefer wine to all other drinks; I would have been very wrong.
Again… depends on the choice of wine. But I think your conclusion will probably serve you well.
A good selection of beers is essential. 1/2 decent lager, 1/4 hoppy ale/IPA and 1/4 dark porter should do the job.