Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a red-faced drunkard.

1650		Eighth Liberal Science n.p.: He that looks red and colours in his drink, Ensign Bearer.
c.1786		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue ms. additions n.p.: Ensign Bearer said of a Drunken man who looks red, or hoists his Colours in his Drink.
1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn).
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1823		Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.