DEAR ABBY: Your advice to “Fed Up in N.Y.,” whose father-in-law scoots off in his motorized wheelchair to the local bar a mile away and returns home drunk, missed one point. The bar has a legal responsibility not to allow customers to leave drunk, and instead of serving drunk customers, to cut them off.

“Fed Up” should go to the bar with the police and inform the bartender and management that the next time they “overserve” “Papa Jake,” she’ll see to it that the New York state liquor license people get an earful, and if anything happens to Papa Jake, or he causes injury to anyone in his drunken condition on the way home, the bar will share in that responsibility.

I’ll bet a gin and tonic after that the bar will cut Papa Jake off long before he gets drunk. – DAVID J. IN SAN FRANCISCO

DEAR DAVID J: That may be true in California, but I’m not sure it’s so in every state. Your suggestion is an intelligent one, and it’s certainly worth making an inquiry to the beverage control board in that woman’s state.

DEAR ABBY: As a follow-up to the letter from “Fed Up in N.Y.,” whose father-in-law was using his motorized scooter to travel to a bar, I suggest that she or her husband disconnect the battery to his scooter. I hope this is helpful. – PHILIP C., HOUSTON

DEAR PHILIP: It might prove helpful, but only as a last resort.

DEAR ABBY: I received a full set of utility knives for Christmas and would like to know the proper way to dispose of the old knives. Thank you. – BEVERLY IN NEW PORT RICHEY, FLA.

DEAR BEVERLY: Make cardboard sheaths for the knives so they will retain their sharpness and not hurt anyone, and donate them to any charity that will take them. Or, offer them to a neighbor at a penny apiece. (In some cultures, it is bad luck to give a knife to someone without financial consideration.)

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Write Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.