Steals off to get drinks (7)

I believe the answer is:

spirits

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

'steals' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their -s form, I don't understand how one could define the other.

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for spirits that I've seen before include "Morale" , "whiskeys?" , "shorts" , "Ghosts" , "Gin, vodka, rum etc" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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