Green’s Dictionary of Slang

needle (and pin) n.

gin.

1902		Dundee Courier 14 June 7/2: ‘Needle and pin’ means gin.
1930		(con. 1914–18) Brophy & Partridge Songs and Sl. of the British Soldier.
a.1945		L. Payne private coll. n.p.: Gin Needle and Pin.
1969		S.T. Kendall Up the Frog 12: Two drops of pimple and blotch and needle and pin for the struggle and strife.
1971		J. Jones Rhy. Cockney Sl.
1981		P. Wright Cockney Dialect and Sl. 99: ‘Gin’ need not always be Vera Lynn [...] it may be needle an’ pin.
1992		R. Puxley Cockney Rabbit.
2002		B. Kirkpatrick Wicked Cockney Rhy. Sl.