Eat a bit before you drink.

The saying advises having a small amount of food before drinking. Its point is the order of the two actions: eat something first, then drink.

It frames that small step as sensible moderation. It does not call for a full meal or promise any particular result from following the advice.

Use it as a brief reminder to someone preparing to drink who has not eaten. The advice is simply to have a little food first; it does not specify a food or a beverage.