Great replies.

I think it's pertinent to point out that she didn't outright accuse me of being drunk, just that she was going to investigate if I was or not, so my status in her statement was still pending. I think a more direct accusation would have warranted a stronger response.

Many pax are scared pantless to go flying, and I chalk up most of this normally unacceptable behavior to nervousness, and I cut them slack accordingly. Unfortunately, as was mentioned, we do get stereotyped, and worse yet is that old game of "telephone" where one pax may make a joke but within 15min, it gets blown way out of proportion by other bystanders... and then we trip on the priority-boarding-carpet or drop our rollaway on the gateway door trim, and the pax are on the phone faster than you can grab that last packet of Biscoffs.

So it's a tricky situation, every case has to be taken on an individual basis.