[twobone]

My father in law when he is sober is the patriarch of his family. He is an upstanding retired guy in his mid 70s who plays golf, drives nice cars...basically the american dream.

Except he is a raging drunk after about 3pm!

He comes up to stay with us each summer and at Xmas.

How do you deal with a father-in-law who is a semi-functional alcoholic.

I almost lost my cool last night.

We have a "last supper" each summer before they drive back to home. We headed out to a small local restaurant neatr my house with 6 adults and 5 kids under the age of 13. Before we get there he was already sporting a buzz.

He then promptly gets so drunk at dinner that he almost passes out. The whole family just kinds of sits there while he drinks himself into a stupor. His wife can't control him. To add misery, he gets louder and louder as wine kicks in.

We had to practically carry the guy out. So embarrassing.

Of course he thinks there is not a problem and that it is normal for someone to have 2 beers and 3 glasses of wine before dinner, 2 bottles of wine during dinner, etc..

He already thinks I'm a putts as I don't drink with him and I don't love TV sports. I don't drink with him because he ruins casual drinking for me.

How do you tell a 75 year old guy who thinks he is the head of a family that he needs to change his behavior as it is upsetting to watch and not appropriate for the kids to see?