Cryptic crossword clue
Nose to tail Channel port vehicle queue had a few too many 9

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word OVERDRANK

I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
O
V
E
R
D
R
A
N
K

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "had a few too many" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case had a few too many = overdrank.
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 OVERDRANK mean?

OVERDRANK verb
  1. To drink to excess

Latest crossword clues with full explanations