Crossword Genius

Packs the drunken sots out of the way! (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

stows

'packs' is the definition.
(I know this)

'drunken sots out of the way' is the wordplay.
'drunken' indicates an anagram.
'out of' indicates putting letters inside (some letters on the outside of others).
'the way' becomes 'w' (Compass direction - West).
'sots' is an anagram of 'stos'.
'stos' enclosing 'w' is 'STOWS'.

'the' is the link.

(Other definitions for stows that I've seen before include "Scots crops in > stores" , "Packs away" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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