tomar not only means to drink .It has wide uses.
tomar
(coger, agarrar) to take: tomó mi mano, he took my hand
toma las llaves, here are the keys
(autobús, taxi, etc) to take, catch: tomé el ascensor, I took the lift o elevator
tengo que tomar el próximo tren, I have to catch the next train
(alimentos) to have
(bebidas) to drink
(medicinas) to take
(adoptar) to take, adopt: tomaron medidas desesperadas, they took desperate measures
(tener cierta reacción) no lo tomes a broma, don't take it as a joke
(juzgar) no me tomes por idiota, don't think I'm stupid
(confundirse) le tomaron por Robert Redford, they mistook him for Robert Redford
(el aire, el fresco, etc) to get
tomar el sol, to sunbathe
(en carretera) decidió tomar la autopista, he decided to take the motorway
(apuntes, notas) to take 10 (fotos) to take 11 Av tomar tierra, to land, touch down 12 ¡toma! excl (sorpresa) well!, why!
(asentimiento) of course!
beber to drink
(brindar) beber a/por, to drink to: beberemos a la salud de Nicolás, let's drink to Nicholas . familiar beber a morro, to drink straight from the bottle
familiar beber como un cosaco, to drink like a fish
beber de un trago, to down something in one go