The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 3 letter word TEA
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
T
E
A
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "drink" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case drink = tea.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does TEA mean?
TEA noun- A drug smoked or ingested for euphoric effect, cannabis.
- The hemp plant itself, Cannabis sativa.
- Food consumed before going to bed.
- Any meal eaten in the evening; dinner eaten in the evening, rather than at noon.
- A meal from a chip shop consisting of a deep-fried food with chips.
- A drinker, especially one who drinks slowly (i.e., one who sups).
- The tea plant (Camellia sinensis); a variety of this plant.
- The dried leaves or buds of the tea plant; a variety of such leaves.
- The drink made by infusing these dried leaves or buds in hot water.
- Any similar drink made by infusing parts of various other plants.
- Meat stock served as a hot drink.
- A cup or (East Asia) glass of any of these drinks, often with milk, sugar, lemon, and/or tapioca pearls.
- A light midafternoon meal, typically but not necessarily including tea.
- The break in play between the second and third sessions.
- Information, especially gossip.
- To drink tea.
- To take afternoon tea (the light meal).
- A moment, a historical unit of time from China, about the amount of time needed to quickly drink a traditional cup of tea. It is now found in Chinese-language historical fiction.