Crossword Genius

Leaves drink after wasted meal (4,3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

high tea

'meal' is the definition.
(I know that high tea is a type of dinner)

'leaves drink after wasted' is the wordplay.
'leaves drink' becomes 'tea' (drink made from tea leaves).
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'wasted' becomes 'high' (wasted can mean high on drugs).
'tea' after 'high' is 'HIGH TEA'.

(Other definitions for high tea that I've seen before include "A lofty kind of evening meal" , "Early-evening meal" , "Late afternoon meal which includes a cooked dish" , "Early evening meal" , "Late-afternoon meal" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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