Intoxicating puzzle from Scintillator even if a little heavy on the anagram count. I see a pattern with the down clues referring to a drink either in the clue or in the answer. This "down a drink" theme is perfect for a Friday.
ACROSS
1 Mangled customary attempt to excise membrane (6) MUCOSA (CUStMOrAy)*
4 Made a request — to Twinkle or Dimple? (8) IMPLORED (OR DIMPLE)*
9 Established crime becomes prevalent (4,2) SETS,IN (SET + SIN)
10 Congress leader withholds love for old European country (8) SLOVENIA (S{-o}{+LOVE}INA)
12 Secret affair to arouse one’s curiosity (8) INTRIGUE (DD)
13 Priest is near Gaya, westbound for Allahabad (6) PRAYAG (PR + GAYA<-)
15 Well, it’s OK (4) FINE (DD)
16 Soft belly is the setting for assorted assimilation (7,3) MELTING, POT (MELTING + POT)
19 A new judge misses imperfect justification that’s concocted (10) FICTITIOUS (jUSTIFICaTIOn)*
20 Generated livelihood for reporters (4) BRED (~BREAD)
23 Disgusting bridal make-up (6) RIBALD (BRIDAL)*
25 Assistant in laboratory decomposing yellow metal off (5,3) ALTAR,BOY (LABorATORY)*
27 A message from the skies? (8) AEROGRAM (CD)
28 Portion of Indian dish gets cut in half (6) DOSAGE (DOSA + GEts)
29 Hotels serve tea before one’s tasted some starter (8) EATERIES (TEA* + I inside ERE + S)
30 Takes control of Shylock’s secretary without hesitation (6) USURPS (USURer + PS)
DOWN
1 Mom’s pet dog (7) MASTIFF (MA'S + TIFF)
2 Tom has a medicine and bananas (9) CATATONIC (CAT + A + TONIC)
3 I strip out to show inner fire (6) SPIRIT (I STRIP)*
5 Whiskey mac at last, tea at first (4) MALT (Acrostic)
6 Forcing student constantly to take gin cocktail (8) LEVERING (L + EVER + GIN*)
7 Hot drink is uncorked (5) RANDY (bRANDY)
8 Auditor’s blueprint is current (7) DRAUGHT (~DRAFT)
11 Rum? Nice when brewed in discrete quantities (7) NUMERIC (RUM NICE)*
14 Resolutely lusty to change (7) STOUTLY (LUSTY TO)*
17 Prison city, harbour and British king’s home (4,5) PORT, BLAIR (PORT + B + LAIR)
18 He may be a rustic retard in more foul surroundings (8) VILLAGER (LAG inside VILER)
19 Abandon in favour of a cause (7) FORSAKE (FOR + SAKE)
21 Drought caused by Prohibition? (7) DRYNESS (DD)
22 Bans of very ordinary cricketer overturned (6) TABOOS (SO + O + BAT)<-
24 Cap taken off — beer and tacos to begin with! (5) BERET (BEER + T)*
26 Offer constricted by appraisal errors (4) SALE (T)
ACROSS
1 Mangled customary attempt to excise membrane (6) MUCOSA (CUS
4 Made a request — to Twinkle or Dimple? (8) IMPLORED (OR DIMPLE)*
9 Established crime becomes prevalent (4,2) SETS,IN (SET + SIN)
10 Congress leader withholds love for old European country (8) SLOVENIA (S{-o}{+LOVE}INA)
13 Priest is near Gaya, westbound for Allahabad (6) PRAYAG (PR + GAYA<-)
15 Well, it’s OK (4) FINE (DD)
16 Soft belly is the setting for assorted assimilation (7,3) MELTING, POT (MELTING + POT)
19 A new judge misses imperfect justification that’s concocted (10) FICTITIOUS (
20 Generated livelihood for reporters (4) BRED (~BREAD)
23 Disgusting bridal make-up (6) RIBALD (BRIDAL)*
25 Assistant in laboratory decomposing yellow metal off (5,3) ALTAR,BOY (LAB
27 A message from the skies? (8) AEROGRAM (CD)
29 Hotels serve tea before one’s tasted some starter (8) EATERIES (TEA* + I inside ERE + S)
30 Takes control of Shylock’s secretary without hesitation (6) USURPS (USUR
DOWN
1 Mom’s pet dog (7) MASTIFF (MA'S + TIFF)
3 I strip out to show inner fire (6) SPIRIT (I STRIP)*
5 Whiskey mac at last, tea at first (4) MALT (Acrostic)
6 Forcing student constantly to take gin cocktail (8) LEVERING (L + EVER + GIN*)
7 Hot drink is uncorked (5) RANDY (
8 Auditor’s blueprint is current (7) DRAUGHT (~DRAFT)
11 Rum? Nice when brewed in discrete quantities (7) NUMERIC (RUM NICE)*
14 Resolutely lusty to change (7) STOUTLY (LUSTY TO)*
17 Prison city, harbour and British king’s home (4,5) PORT, BLAIR (PORT + B + LAIR)
18 He may be a rustic retard in more foul surroundings (8) VILLAGER (LAG inside VILER)
19 Abandon in favour of a cause (7) FORSAKE (FOR + SAKE)
21 Drought caused by Prohibition? (7) DRYNESS (DD)
22 Bans of very ordinary cricketer overturned (6) TABOOS (SO + O + BAT)<-
24 Cap taken off — beer and tacos to begin with! (5) BERET (BEER + T)*
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