I want to be able to use a different verb instead of "use" for using something in the inventory. For example, I want to be able to say "drink ale", and have the behavior that I currently have for "use ale".

I see no option for this under the "Use/Give" pane. I have also looked through the functions available in the script editor, but I can see nothing like "use <object>", "use <object> on <object>" etc. Any ideas, anyone?

I don't think that the "use" Verb has the "alt" (alternative label) Attribute, but if it does, you can just type in what you want into it.

if you specifically want to use "drink", that's already a built-in Verb.

otherwise:

in the lower left corner is the "Filter" button:

Filter -> Show Library Elements -> allows you to see the built-in stuff (it'll be in light-grey), in the "tree of things" (the left side~panel) -> find and click on "use" so it is highlighted -> on the right side~panel, click on the "copy" button -> customize the "use" to how you want it (though this is a global change, and you could cause a lot of errors as it is one of the underlying built-in verbs~commands~functions).

Well, as far as I see it, the short option is make a verb called "drink" on the ale object and copy whatever "use" currently does into that. The slightly longer but more efficient option is to make a new function, paste whatever "use" does right now into that, and then make both the "drink" verb and "use" just call it. I'm not aware of any way to make one verb call another without using a function.