Object to drinks prior to play (9)
I believe the answer is:
represent
'play' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'object to drinks prior to' is the wordplay.
'object to' becomes 'resent' (to resent something is to dislike it).
'drinks' is an insertion indicator (inserted letters are consumed or drunk).
'prior to' becomes 'pre' (I've seen this in another clue).
'resent' going around 'pre' is 'REPRESENT'.
(Other definitions for represent that I've seen before include "Illustrate" , "declare" , "Mean" , "Stand for or symbolise" , "Ambassadors do it" .)