Crossword Genius

Topless drinking bout offers excitement (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

arousal

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'excitement' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'topless drinking' is the wordplay.
'topless' means to remove the first letter.
'drinking' becomes 'carousal' (a drunken feast).
'carousal' with its first letter removed is 'AROUSAL'.

'bout offers' is the link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for arousal that I've seen before include "Awakening; stimulation" , "heating?" , "Awakening (of emotion, etc)" , "Sexual excitement" , "Act of awakening" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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