Under what circumstances can alcoholic beverages be served to passengers?

The correct answer is that alcoholic beverages can be served to passengers after ensuring that they are sober. This guideline is in place to promote passenger safety and maintain a responsible environment on board. Flight crews are trained to assess passengers' sobriety to prevent situations that could lead to disruptive behavior or safety risks during the flight. By ensuring that passengers are sober prior to serving alcohol, the airline actively works to foster a safe travel experience for all individuals on board.

In contrast, serving alcohol simply because a passenger requests it does not take into account their state of sobriety, which could lead to problems if the passenger has already consumed too much alcohol. Serving to any passenger appearing intoxicated contradicts responsible service rules; instead, it would exacerbate the very concern that regulations seek to address. Finally, while it's important for alcohol to be served in accordance with air carrier policies, the active assessment of a passenger’s sobriety remains paramount in determining whether they can be served alcohol.