Is there not in his (peace and blessings be upon him) saying, “The drinker of wine is like the worshipper of an idol,” evidence that the drinker of wine is a disbeliever?

Question:
A questioner says: We seek clarification regarding the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), “The drinker of wine is like the worshipper of an idol,” and his saying . Is there not in this evidence that he is a disbeliever, given that Paradise is forbidden to him and he is likened to the worshipper of an idol?

Answer:
No, this is a matter of warning (wa'id) and does not constitute disbelief, due to other evidence. There is other evidence that one who commits a major sin less than shirk (associating partners with Allah) does not become a disbeliever.
And wine is among the major sins less than shirk, so one does not become a disbeliever. We do not limit ourselves to these proofs alone; rather, we combine them with the other proofs that indicate that one who commits a major sin does not become a disbeliever.
The drinker of wine in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was brought before him, flogged, and the hadd (fixed punishment) was carried out against him. If he had been a disbeliever, he would have been killed, and they would not have been content with merely carrying out the hadd against him. The hudud (fixed punishments) are only carried out against Muslims, whereas the apostate is killed. Yes.