If you didn't know how to pick up items until just now, you've probably missed a ton of content. It's far from the only time it's used.
You don't have to do his entire questline to get the phone. Just give him the coffee and take the wine away from him, and he sobers up, and then you can ask him to go get it from Brittney.
He drank the coffee but still hasn't sobered up. I think the event where he tells me he's done is waiting for his current event to be over, which... has bugged out entirely because I convinced him to stick his cock in a bugzapper.
At this point, I think I just need the console command to give me his phone.
Unfortunately, I don't know what it's name is, and if I just type in 'phone' it'll probably give me the wrong one. Or a washing machine or something.
Also, yeah I know how to pick shit up. You click on it and press take.
I've never needed more than that.
Then again, i've also never used the combat mechanics either, because the crackhead who attacks you seem to be invincible.
Edit: I guess I could try to slap the shit out of Leah though. She kinda has it coming.