Our programmers make sure that each learner has encountered a new word before he or she is tested on it. It tends to be the case that the human memory is a little less fallible than our programs. Also, "Getränke" has a dictionary hint. Note that if you are in the "test out" mode, you cannot peek.

Seems to me approximately 0% of English speakers talk about beverages - they talk about drinks and Duolingo should see that "you are drinking drinks" is EXACTLY what this sentence means.

This showed up for me before I learned "Getränke" at all. How can I translate a word I haven't learned when hovering over it won't bring up the translations?

So, why isn't "I drink a drink" accepted? Yes, I know it sounds a bit funny, but it didn't make it any less correct. I'll try again with, "I am drinking a drink" and see what happens.