was drinking (alcohol), used to drink (alcohol)
Том выпивал примерно в три раза больше, чем Мэри.
Tom drank about three times as much as Mary.
Том был в баре и выпивал.
Tom was at the bar and drinking.
А ваш отец часто выпивал?
Did your father drink often?
— Маленькая Вера (1988)
Том выпивал?
Has Tom been drinking?
Он выпивал?
Did he drink?
— Анатомия падения (2023)