preloading
Although it may initially seem like a good idea, pregaming can overburden your system and cause your blood alcohol content (BAC) to spike very quickly.
Pregaming, the practice of consuming alcohol before attending a social function, has not received as much research attention as drinking games among college students.
The students spoke of "pre-gaming", or loading up on alcohol before heading out for a night on the town.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Alcohol - general words
alcoholic
alcopop
Angostura
aperitif
bevvy
booze
intoxicant
juice
kick
libation
liquid lunch
liquor
pre-drinking
predrinks
preload
preloading
quick one
slug
specific gravity
vinosity