I did some research, which is of no difficulty due to the Internet, and I found a number of words that I've never met before: either in books or in films; as well as a number of words that I by no means consider possible synonyms to "drink".

As I'm not a native speaker I wish to get into the theme))) I admit that Am.E & Br.E are not the same, so it becomes more urgent to know them both)))

As for "fuddle" - it's British informal, a kind of a synonym to "guzzle", means "if something, especially alcohol or drugs, fuddles you or your mind, it makes you unable to think clearly" (Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English)
also "fuddle" AmE - to make drunk; intoxicate, to drink; tipple (the American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)
Though I should admit that the word usage provided by a native speaker and the best dictionary is not of equal value)) as dictionaries are getting out-of-date long before they're printed)))

"Absorb" can be used in this way:
These plants drink much water.
These plants absorb much water.
(at least as I can make it out from dictionaries and common sense)))

As for "knock back" & "pull on" - they're phrasal verbs and that's the matter))) You can hardly imagine what mysterious power it can have on non-natives. All courses, text-books and tests are full of phrasal verbs of all kinds and types (though I suspect that these phrasal verbs are used rather variously in different parts of the UK)) Still, we have to know them all)))) even if the only place we can use them is a test)))