What does the cryptic crossword clue "Drinking, right, but remaining vigilant (2,3,5)" mean?

The definition is "vigilant". The wordplay uses a charade (building blocks). ON (synonym="ON") + THE (synonym="THE") + ALE (synonym="Drinking") + RT (synonym="right") = ONTHEALERT; definition: "vigilant" The answer is ONTHEALERT.

Drinking, right, but remaining vigilant (2,3,5)

Guardian Cryptic #29061 | 14 Across | 2023-05-04 flower

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