Wet stock management for pubs and bars
By mise · Updated September 29, 2026
Quick answer: wet stock is everything you sell as drinks: draught, bottles, spirits, wine and minerals. Manage it by recording every delivery, logging ullage and wastage, taking stock weekly (weighing part kegs and bottles), and comparing usage with till sales per line. A yield under 95–97% on draught or a GP well below target means something to chase.
For a wet-led pub, the bar is the business. Wet stock control is what tells you whether the GP on the price list is the GP in the bank.
What counts as wet stock
Draught beer and cider (kegs and casks), packaged beer, spirits, wine, minerals and post-mix. Dry stock is the food side.
The weekly routine
- Record every delivery and credit note.
- Log ullage (line cleaning, fobbing, returned pints) and breakages.
- Take stock at the same time each week: full containers plus part kegs and part bottles by weight.
- Usage per line = opening + deliveries − closing.
- Compare with till sales per line. The difference, in pints or measures, is your loss.
Yield on draught
An 11-gallon keg holds 88 pints. If the till shows 82 pints sold, yield is 93%. Most operators aim for 95–97% after line cleaning. Lower yield points to fobbing, over-filling, poor line maintenance or free pints.
Weighing part kegs and bottles
Weigh, subtract the empty weight and divide by the full liquid weight. A Bluetooth scale linked to the stock app makes this as quick as eyeballing and far more accurate. See the keg inventory guide for weights.
With mise you scan each bottle, weigh the part ones and get usage and losses per line when you close the stock take.
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Frequently asked questions
What is wet stock in a pub?
All drinks stock — draught, bottles, spirits, wine and soft drinks — as opposed to dry (food) stock.
How often should wet stock be counted?
Weekly or fortnightly, with a monthly full stock take. Weekly lets you act before losses build up.
What is ullage?
Beer lost in the system and in service: line cleaning, fobbing, spillage and returned drinks. It should be recorded, not absorbed.