A B737-200 PIC RPT REGARDING A SOFT DRINK CUP CONTAMINATED WITH ALCOHOL THAT WAS PICKED UP IN THE GALLEY AND BROUGHT INTO THE COCKPIT WITH HIS SOFT DRINK PRIOR TO DEP FROM STL; MO.

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FLT ARRIVED IN STL APPROX 90 MINS LATE AND WAS SCHEDULED TO RETURN TO ATL. AFTER PREFLTING THE COCKPIT FOR THE RETURN LEG; I WENT TO THE FORWARD GALLEY AND FILLED A PLASTIC CUP WITH ICE AND GOT A CAN OF DIET SPRITE. AT THAT TIME I HAD TO LEAVE THE ACFT TO TALK TO THE GATE AGENT ABOUT BOARDING CREW MEALS FOR THE PLTS. THE PLTS WERE GOING TO HAVE A 14 1/2 HR CREW DUTY DAY AND SCHEDULED CREW MEALS HAD NOT BEEN BOARDED ON THE PREVIOUS LEG IN ATL. I HAD NOT HAD ANYTHING TO EAT IN THE LAST 9 HRS. I PLACED THE CUP AND THE UNOPENED CAN OF SODA ON THE FORWARD GALLEY SERVING AREA AND LEFT THE ACFT. I RETURNED TO THE ACFT AFTER ABOUT 10 MINS. WHEN I RETURNED THERE WERE 4 PLASTIC CUPS WITH ICE ON THE GALLEY SVC AREA. I PICKED UP MY CUP AND THE CAN OF SODA AND RETURNED TO THE COCKPIT. IN THE COCKPIT; I OPENED THE SODA; FILLED THE CUP WITH SPRITE AND TOOK A DRINK. THE DRINK TASTED STRANGE AND I IMMEDIATELY SPIT IT BACK INTO THE CUP WITHOUT SWALLOWING ANY OF THE SODA. I ASKED THE FO TO SMELL THE DRINK AND HE SAID HE THOUGHT THAT IT SMELLED LIKE ALCOHOL. I WENT TO THE FORWARD GALLEY AND ASKED THE FLT ATTENDANT IF SHE HAD PUT SOMETHING IN THE CUP THAT HAD LEFT IN THE GALLEY. SHE CONFIRMED THAT SHE HAD SLASHED A SMALL AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL (VODKA?) INTO THE 4 CUPS IN PREPARATION FOR PAX BOARDING AND DRINK ORDERS. I IMMEDIATELY LEFT THE COCKPIT AND WALKED DOWN THE HALL OF THE TERMINAL AWAY FROM THE PAX BOARDING AREAS AND USED A PAY PHONE TO CALL THE DISPATCHER. I TOLD THE DISPATCHER WHAT HAD HAPPENED; AND ASKED HIM TO CONTACT THE OCC DUTY PLT. HE TOLD ME TO CALL BACK IN 10 MINS. WHEN I CALLED THE DISPATCHER BACK; THE OCC DUTY PLT AND THE CVG CHIEF PLT WERE ON THE LINE. I TOLD THEM WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND ASKED THEM FOR SOME GUIDANCE WITH THE SIT. CHIEF PLT TOLD ME THAT SINCE I HAD SPIT OUT THE DRINK AND HAD NOT SWALLOWED ANY OF THE CONTENTS THAT I HAD NOT CONSUMED ALCOHOL AND WAS NOT IN VIOLATION OF COMPANY POLICY OF FARS. HE TOLD ME TO TALK TO MY CREW AND SEE IF ANYONE HAD A PROB WITH ME CONTINUING ON TO ATL; AND OUR LAYOVER. I RETURNED TO THE ACFT AND GATHERED ALL THE FLT ATTENDANTS AND THE FO IN THE JETWAY AND TOLD EVERYONE WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND WHAT THE CHIEF PLT HAD SAID. I TOLD THEM THAT I HAD NOT CONSUMED ALCOHOL; BUT IF ANYONE WAS UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT THE SIT THAT I WOULD REMOVE MYSELF FROM THE FLT IN STL AND REQUEST A BREATHALYZER AND BLOOD TEST IMMEDIATELY. NO ONE HAD ANY OBJECTIONS TO ME FLYING BACK TO ATL. FLT PROCEEDED TO ATL WITHOUT INCIDENT.