Drinking game finishing midway after friend's return (7)

I believe the answer is:

lapping

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'drinking' is the definition.
(lapping is a kind of drinking)

'game finishing midway after friend's return' is the wordplay.
'game finishing midway' becomes 'ping' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'friend' becomes 'pal' (pal can mean a friend).
'return' is a reversal indicator.
'pal' backwards is 'lap'.
'ping' after 'lap' is 'LAPPING'.

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I've seen this clue in The Times.

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