HOPING WHAT WITH YOUR CLINGING BEER MUGS???
It's an emoticon for "cheers". It does not necessarily mean Anne is drinking (not that there is a problem with that). Similarly, if I were to post emoticons such as the following ( ::deadhorse:: :smashcomp: :suicide: :soapbox: ) it does not actually mean I am by my computer beating a dead horse, smashing my computer, blowing my brains out, or standing on top of a soap box screaming abstract charachters.
Oh. And please learn to use the quote feature. All you have to do is click the quote button next to the post you want to respond to. You then go to the end of the text (after the bits saying quote) press return a few times, and type your message.