I understand it as referring to a single occasion of drinking. Any other thoughts? "...in excess of ______..." is the only way that "in" can be used with "excess".

florence, "Don't drink to excess." could apply to both continous drinking, or to a particular situation. The prepositional phrase "in excess" functions as an adverb and the verb "to drink" could be interpreted as referring to a one time action or to drinking in general. -When you go out with your friends tonight, don't drink to excess! -While you are on your summer fishing trip, don't drink to excess. eat, drink, etc. to excess....to a greater AMOUNT or DEGREE than is beneficial or right. "In excess" is an older form that can have the same meaning. If you google it, you will probably find a few examples of its use in modern English. - We have government in excess.(1841) - Even small doses are more or less poisonous, probably on the same principle that raw meat and other nutritious substances, given in excess, kill the leaves. Charles Darwin 1875 (writing about meat-eating plants) Okay, I was curious, so I googled it. -Gastronomic Hedonism - Loving Food In Excess? -Harmful in Excess?: MedlinePlus Health News Video -As of Tuesday, the district had 210 teachers and 22 other contract employees in excess

i don't konw what you say clearly