Q:

What is the meaning of "imbibe the imbibements"?

Though no statistics are available, it is probably safe to asssume that few of them regularly drop their butts and boogie to rock music, and that even fewer imbibe the imbibements which were easing the inhibitions of Lee Atwater`s audience.

Can anybody explain what "imbibe the imbibements" precisely means in the sentence above, quoted from the Chicago Tribune? Does there "imbibement" consist of a non material substance?

A:

No, "imbibements" consist of a material substance--alcohol.
The word is a playful derivation of the verb imbibe, made using the suffix -ment.  Most often, -ment forms nouns that refer to an act or process, forming (for example) enlightenment from enlighten, or investment from invest; if it were used in this sense, then you could refer to an act of imbibing as an "imbibement".  However, this derivation uses a slightly non-standard sense, instead forming a noun that refers to the object of an action or process; in other words, an "imbibement" is that which is imbibed, namely, alcoholic beverages.
I consider this word non-standard, and I recommend you avoid it if your goal is to speak Standard English.

A:

To "imbibe" is to drink, usually used when referring to drinking alcohol.
I have never heard the word "imbibement" and I don't find it in a dictionary. I'm guessing the writer just made it up as a playful object of the verb "imbibe", so it would presumably mean "alcoholic beverages".

