Associate left and the writer uses it to lose the head on drink
I believe the answer is:
linkup
'the writer uses it to lose the head on drink' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'associate left' is the wordplay.
'associate' becomes 'link' ('link' can be a synonym of 'associate').
'left' becomes 'up' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'link'+'up'='LINKUP'
'and' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for linkup that I've seen before include "Communication connection" , "Connect" , "Union" .)