A top sociologist, I abandoned gin cocktail for water when in Paris (9)
I believe the answer is:
martineau
'a top sociologist i abandoned gin cocktail' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'water when in paris' is the wordplay.
'water' becomes 'ea' (I've seen this in other clues).
'when in' is an insertion indicator.
'paris' becomes 'martinu' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'ea' inserted within 'martinu' is 'MARTINEAU'.
'for' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for martineau that I've seen before include "Harriet, an author" , "sociological writer" .)