How did Sarakani become a stream enterer despite having an alcohol drinking habit?

I read SN 55.24 (quoted below) and it says Sarakani became a stream enterer despite having an alcohol drinking habit, because he undertook the training before he died. What does the sutta really mean? Does it mean he gave up alcohol and undertook the training, then became a stream enterer? The sutta isn't very clear on whether Sarakani gave up alcohol. Did he give it up? Or not? > Now at that time Sarakāni the Sakyan had passed away. The Buddha > declared that he was a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the > underworld, bound for awakening. > > At that, several Sakyans came together complaining, grumbling, and > objecting, “It’s incredible, it’s amazing! Who can’t become a > stream-enterer these days? For the Buddha even declared Sarakāni to be > a stream-enterer after he passed away. Sarakāni was too weak for the > training; he used to drink alcohol.”