No 13312, Thursday 29 Jul 2021, Karaoke

Solution to 16D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

ACROSS

1   The intoxicant works essentially with illicit drug at social gathering near river (4,4) RICE BEER {woRks}{ICE}{BEE}{R}

5   Sun moves to the top in Zodiac sign during seasons (6) SPICES (+s)SPI(-s)CES

9   Abandon heavy-handed girl in trouble (5,4,3,3) LEAVE HIGH AND DRY*

11 Lookalike leading lady is deleted from offensive adult clip by second censor (9) DUPLICATE {ADUlT+CLIP}*{cEnsor}

12 Lease out aeroplanes grounded in parking area (5) APRON AeROPlaNes* 

13 He raises his hand but not to hit someone. It’s all in the game! (6) UMPIRE [CD]

15 They are inclined to read morning post regularly (5) RAMPS {R}{AM}{PoSt}

19 Financial backer’s temper is lessened with a drop of liquor (5) ANGEL {ANGEr}{Li...r}

20 Canines killed in terrible accident causing delay (6) DETAIN AccIDENT*

24 Originally, Lama has accepted seat at the capital city (5) LHASA Acrostic

25 What would one do to protest loudly? Set up a gambling house? (5,4) RAISE HELL {RAISE}{HELL}

27 Long-standing and will be deathless in other words (4-11) WELL ESTABLISHED*

28 Maybe Saudi kings’ monies lost interest for peak oil (6) ROYALS R(-i+o)OYALS

29 Concluded an issue in rush (8) REASONED {RE{A}{SON}ED}

DOWN

1   Dismissed regulation, bishop acquitted in ambiguity (5,3) RULED OUT {RULE}{DOUbT}

2   Appreciably, cocktail bar disallowed smokers’ accessory (4,4) CLAY PIPE APPrECIabLY*

3   It is cheap puff in Bangladesh, I hear (5) BEEDI (~bd)

4   Plants to treat caries (6) ERICAS*

6   Explosive long fruit (9) PINEAPPLE {PINE}{APPLE}

7   Cold ducks spend energy for drinks (6) CIDERS {C}{eIDERS}

8   Saw secret service recruiting top agents for president (6) SAYING S(-p+a)AYING

10 Animals with long laughs outside (6) HYENAS {H{YEN}AS}

14 What a caller at the door will do to sound familiar? (4,1,4) RING A BELL [DD]

16 Undercover scribe with A-line skirts (6) ?E?R?T (Addendum - SECRET SECRETary - See comments)

17 North American native hare went haywire (8) WATERHEN*

18 Comprehended hint essentially was unclear with nothing missing (8) INCLUDED {IN}{CLoUDED}

21 Frown at farmer shifting sides (6) GLOWER G(-r+l)LOWER

22 It goes into liquors and spirits at local shelter reportedly (6) BARLEY {BAR}{LEY}(~lee)

23 Quick-moving river swallows doctor (6) NIMBLE {NI{MB}LE}

26 Legends create one less than hundred in records (5) EPICS {EP{IC}S}

Reference List

Social gathering = BEE, River = R, Sun = S, Read = R, Interest = I, Bishop = B, Cold = C, Energy = E, President = P, Line = RY, Records = EPS