Pre-game

Pre-gaming is getting together with a smaller group of friends to drink before a bigger party or going to the bars. It can be said that people "pre-game" in order to get a head start on the intoxication or to party earlier than 10 pm (or whatever time the party starts). People sometimes pre-game before they go to bars in order to get a greater buzz without spending copious amounts of money on expensive drinks at the bar.