A PAX ON BOARD AN MD80 IS QUESTIONED AS TO HIS SOBRIETY BY THE CREW AND THE GATE AGENT. HE LATER; AT THE DEST ARPT; COMPLAINS TO THE CAPT ABOUT HIS EMBARRASSMENT DURING THIS PROC.

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SHORTLY BEFORE DEP; AS PAX WERE BOARDING; THE FLT ATTENDANT IN CHARGE STATED THAT A PAX HAD RPTED THAT ANOTHER PAX WAS INTOXICATED. I INSTRUCTED THE FLT ATTENDANT TO DISCREETLY INVESTIGATE THE SIT AND RPT BACK TO ME; WHICH SHE DID STATING THAT SHE WAS COMFORTABLE WITH THE PAX IN QUESTION. HE WAS SITTING QUIETLY IN HIS ASSIGNED SEAT LOOKING AROUND. A FEW MOMENTS LATER; A GATE AGENT SUPVR CAME ON BOARD AND STATED THAT HE WOULD TALK WITH THE PAX IN PVT IN THE JETWAY. HE RPTED THAT WHILE THE PAX HAD BEEN DRINKING; HE APPEARED TO BE SOBER ENOUGH TO CONTINUE. WE THEN LEFT ATL AND FLEW WITHOUT INCIDENT TO IAD. WHILE DEPLANING IN IAD; A PAX BEGAN TO QUESTION OUR PROCS STATING THAT HE WAS INSULTED BY BEING TAKEN ASIDE IN FRONT OF HIS CUSTOMERS; PARTICULARLY SINCE IT WAS OUR AIRLINE THAT HAD FURNISHED THE BEVERAGES. I STATED THAT SAFETY WAS OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY AND THAT AT ANY TIME A PAX'S FITNESS TO FLY IS CALLED INTO QUESTION IT MUST BE CHKED OUT. HE LEFT; RETURNING TO ACCEPT MY EXPLANATION. THIS INCIDENT COULD BE AVOIDED OR CERTAINLY REDUCED IF AIRLINES RESTR THE NUMBER OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES SERVED OR GIVEN (VIA MINI BOTTLES) TO PAX IN THEIR RESPECTIVE FREQUENT FLYER LOUNGES.