B737 FLT CREW HAS PAX SUGGEST THAT ONE OF THE PLTS SMELLS OF ALCOHOL. FLT CREW IMMEDIATELY RETURNS TO GATE AND HAS QUALIFIED PERSONNEL CERTIFY SOBRIETY.

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AFTER PUSHING BACK FROM GATE; WE WERE INFORMED DURING THE START OF ENG #1 THAT A PAX IN THE FRONT ROW HAD COMMENTED THAT ONE OF THE PLTS HAD SMELLED LIKE ALCOHOL. WE SHUT DOWN THE ENGS AND RETURNED TO THE GATE TO QUESTION THE PAX. WE WERE MET BY STATION PERSONNEL TRAINED TO HANDLE THESE SITS. THE PAX; WHO PRE-BOARDED IN A WHEELCHAIR; SHOWED NO DIFFICULTY WALKING INTO THE JETWAY TO ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS. SHE DENIED MAKING ANY COMMENTS ABOUT ALCOHOL AND SAID SHE WAS JOKING. ANOTHER PAX TOLD US SHE HAD MADE COMMENTS TO THE EFFECT THAT ONE OF THE PLTS HAD BEEN DRINKING; BUT IT WAS A JOKE. I INFORMED THEM BOTH THAT SUCH COMMENTS HAD TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND THAT WE (THE PLTS) HAD NOT BEEN DRINKING. THE CAPT CONTACTED THE CHIEF PLT REGARDING THE SIT. THEY AGREED TO HAVE TRAINED ALCOHOL OBSERVERS FROM THE STATION CERTIFY OUR SOBRIETY. THIS WAS DONE IN THE JETWAY; WE RE-ENTERED THE PLANE AND DEPARTED WITHOUT INCIDENTS. THE PAX INVOLVED IN MAKING THE COMMENTS WERE OFFERED ALTERNATE FLT ARRANGEMENTS; IF THEY FELT UNCOMFORTABLE WITH OUR ABILITY TO SAFELY FLY. ONCE AGAIN; THEY SAID IT WAS ALL A JOKE AND CHOSE TO CONTINUE.