Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (US) a drunkard; also attrib.

1842		T. Hood ‘University Feud’ Works (1862) V 418: Not to name the Maynooth Catholics, and other Irish stews.
1905		F. Hutchison Philosophy of Johnny the Gent 58: ‘Who’s your friend?’ says the mark [...] ‘Oh, he’s some stew fighter around here,’ says the Kid.
1907		B. Fisher A. Mutt in Blackbeard Compilation (1977) 9: Get out of here you big stew.
1917		R. Lardner ‘The Water Cure’ in Gullible’s Travels 191: ‘No,’ I says, ‘that’s the steward.’ ‘And what does he do?’ she ast me. ‘He hangs round the bar,’ I says, ‘and looks after the stews.’.
1920		Ade Hand-made Fables 266: Those amateur Stews who were still on Probation usually addressed him as ‘Professor’.
1930		J. Lait Put on the Spot 71: She was a terrible stew an’ half the time she was in the hoosegow.
1939		Howsley Argot: Dict. of Und. Sl.
1942		D. Runyon in Star (Marion, OH) 31 July 6/8: The beauty of the latter [phrase] must be clear to anyone who has ever been the victim of a stew’s fond embrace.
1949		Monteleone Criminal Sl. (rev. edn).
1962		Ragen & Finston World’s Toughest Prison 820: stew – A drunkard.

2. a drunken carouse.

1900		Sporting Times 24 Mar. 1/1: Begad and hooroo! So the consideration of water had to be adjourned to let Irishmen talk. Why didn’t you put a little whisky in the water, Stuart? Is there no Irish Stew-art about you?
1930		G. Milburn ‘Toledo Slim’ in Hobo’s Hornbook 193: And while I sat there drinking, getting on a mighty stew.
1965		B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 131: I was sittin’ at the table, gettin’ on a mighty stew, / a dead swell dame come sit beside me too.