Qatadah narrates: It reached us that when this verse was revealed, the Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, Allah is proceeding gradually in the prohibition of wine." So the people kept drinking it as long as the time of prayer had not come, and when the time of prayer came they would refrain from it, and becoming intoxicated by it was unlawful for them. Then Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, revealed its complete prohibition in Surah al-Ma'idah, so it is unlawful whether little or much - that which intoxicates and that which does not, all of it.
Concerning the words of Allah Almighty, "Nor in a state of major impurity, except those passing through (travellers)" [Surah al-Nisa': 43]: He granted the traveller the concession that if he is on a journey and is in a state of major impurity and finds no water, he may perform dry ablution (tayammum) and pray.
Hadith Referenceالمعجم الكبير للطبراني / باب العين / 12851