Popular pastime taking regular nips of Scotch - cheers! (6)
I believe the answer is:
soccer
'popular pastime' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
I don't understand the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for soccer that I've seen before include "popular game" , "Informally, game" , "The beautiful game?" , "Football for Americans?" , "American football?" .)