Is it permissible for the ruler to gradually prohibit the sale of alcohol, or must he prohibit it all at once in a Muslim country?

Texts from the Quran, the Sunnah (definition), and scholarly consensus have established the prohibition of alcohol in terms of selling, buying, drinking, and manufacturing. This is a matter known by necessity in the religion. The Prophet, peace be upon him, cursed ten categories of people in the authentic hadith (definition) concerning alcohol.

Rulers must immediately and unequivocally prohibit the circulation of alcohol. This is the fundamental principle in denouncing and removing evil. However, if doing so would lead to greater harms, then there is no objection to a gradual prohibition to avert greater harms by committing lesser ones.