Allah sent down the verse wherein He prohibited alcohol at a time when there was no other (intoxicant) drink in Madīnah except that prepared from dates

Explanation of the hadith

In this Hadīth, Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) says that when Allah, the Almighty, revealed the verse that made alcohol unlawful to drink, there was no drink in Madīnah from which alcohol was produced except dates. This indicates that alcohol is prohibited because it causes intoxication, not because of the substance it is made from.