Using the flow of intoxicants in the streets of Madinah as evidence for their purity

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. You mentioned that intoxicants are ritually impure, but the question is: when they were prohibited, they flowed through the streets of Madinah. Does this not indicate that they are pure?

Answer:
The flow of water is not a condition; there may be depressions and banks in the road. It is reported that the flow of water purifies, washes, and cleanses the road, but this has not been established. It is not a condition of the flow that it be pure. Let it be among the impurities that affect the road, including the intoxicants that were spilled. However, if a person knows of impurity on the road, he should avoid it and not step in it. If he steps in it, he should wash his foot if he knows of the impurity. As for if he does not know, the default for roads is purity.

The presenter:
May Allah grant you success.