Conferences appear set up to include time getting gin-sozzled (8)
I believe the answer is:
meetings
'conferences' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both groups as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'appear set up to include time getting gin-sozzled' is the wordplay.
'appear' becomes 'seem' (synonyms).
'set up' is a reversal indicator (in a down clue, letters go up).
'to include' is an insertion indicator.
'time getting' becomes 't' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'sozzled' is an anagram indicator.
'seem' in reverse letter order is 'mees'.
'gin' anagrammed gives 'ing'.
't'+'ing'='ting'
'mees' placed around 'ting' is 'MEETINGS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for meetings that I've seen before include "Encounters or gatherings" , "'Gatherings, usually scheduled (8)'" , "Formally arranged gatherings" , "Business get-togethers" , "Assemblies as by committees" .)