Drink, for example prior to backing call for meal (6)
I believe the answer is:
eggnog
'drink' is the definition.
(eggnog is a kind of drink)
'example prior to backing call for meal' is the wordplay.
'example' becomes 'eg'.
'prior to' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'backing' is a reversal indicator.
'call for meal' becomes 'gong' (a gong may be rung to announce a meal).
'gong' reversed gives 'gnog'.
'eg'+'gnog'='EGGNOG'
'for' is the link.
(Other definitions for eggnog that I've seen before include "Kind of sweet punch" , "A punch for bedtime, perhaps" , "spirits in me?" , "Winter cocktail" , "warming drink" .)