Crossword Genius

Staff regularly asleep? It's the drink (4,3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pale ale

'the drink' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'staff regularly asleep?' is the wordplay.
'staff' becomes 'pale' (pale can mean a wooden staff or stake).
'regularly' indicates alternate letters (regularly take one letter, leave next etc.).
The alternate letters of 'asleep' are 'ale'.
'pale'+'ale'='PALE ALE'

'it's' is the link.

(Another definition for pale ale that I've seen is " Drink".)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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