Green’s Dictionary of Slang

to drink beer.

1886

W. Newton Secrets of Tramp Life Revealed 17: He must go to the ‘Suck Crib,’ or beerhouse and ‘galtees,’ or spends all he has got. He will then barter the good suit he is wearing for a worse suit and as much money as he can get [...] and by this gains another day’s ‘Gattering’.