B727 ACFT PRIOR TO FLT. FLT ATTENDANT SMELLED ALCOHOL ON CAPT'S BREATH AND COMPLAINED TO FLC. CAPT REMOVED HIMSELF FROM THE TRIP.

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THE TRIP INVOLVED A DEADHEAD TO AN ARPT 30 MINS AWAY; FOLLOWED BY A 12 HR LAYOVER. THE NEXT MORNING WE FLEW BACK TO THE HUB WITH A SCHEDULED OVERWATER OUT AND BACK. I DID NOT MEET THE CAPT UNTIL THE PREFLT SINCE HE DEADHEADED ON A DIFFERENT FLT AND TOOK DIFFERENT TRANSPORT FROM THE HOTEL TO THE ARPT. I HAD NOT FLOWN WITH THIS CAPT BEFORE. ALL OPS WERE NORMAL DURING THE SHORT FLT WHICH HE ELECTED TO FLY. WE HAD A 1 HR 15 MIN LAYOVER AND ACFT CHANGE AT THE HUB. THE CAPT WENT TO THE OPS/CREW ROOM AND ARRIVED AT THE AIRPLANE 15 MINS BEFORE PUSH. HE TALKED WITH FLT ATTENDANTS AND THEN WENT BACK INTO THE TERMINAL TO GET HIS BAGS. WHILE HE WAS AWAY; A FLT ATTENDANT SAID THAT SHE THOUGHT THAT THE CAPT SMELLED OF ALCOHOL AND HAD BEEN DRINKING; WHAT DID WE (THE SECOND OFFICER AND I) THINK? WE HAD NO EVIDENCE OF THAT BUT WOULD OBSERVE HIM CLOSELY WHEN HE RETURNED. WE DID AND STILL DID NOT SEE OR SMELL ANY EVIDENCE OF ALCOHOL. AS WE CONTINUED PREPARATIONS FOR FLT; SHE WAS STILL UNCOMFORTABLE AND WE COMMUNICATED THE SIT TO THE CAPT AND SAID IT NEEDED TO BE RESOLVED BEFORE WE CONTINUED. THE CAPT REMOVED HIMSELF FROM THE TRIP AND RPTED TO THE CHIEF PLT. TODAY; 5 DAYS LATER; I LEARNED THAT HE TESTED AT A BAT OF .02 AND .015 AFTER HE LEFT THE TRIP. RECOMMEND THAT PROCS BE DEVELOPED TO RESOLVE SUCH SITS MORE READILY.