So... Has your brother gained some common sense since then? 
I hope he makes better decisions by now.
Hosting them at his place, worse, subjecting his wife (she sounds very sweet, maybe too sweet for her own good) and daughters to them, while you had warned him, was not the best judgement.
And his choice of entertainment for his "guests from hell"?
He knew they had problems with alcohol - so, hey, why not take them to a winetasting place, and a hot air balloon ride afterwards? Sounds like a good plan to me - what could possibly go wrong?? 
I think he's developed better sense. I hope
I have developed better sense.
I can report that he stuck to his word about never speaking to them again. And, he's done a lot of personal growth sense then, and his temper, I'm happy to report, seems to have calmed down (well, as much as one can tell over the phone, that is.) However, he's making a lot of the same decisions in other areas of his life and career, so some things have stayed the same.
His wife - my dear Sister-in-Law - yes, she is way too sweet for her own good. I cannot figure out how she's survived this long. I haven't figured out if she is extremely strong or extremely foolish, but she loves my brother. And absolutely, the judgment in subjecting the kids to that - after they were warned - yes, that's a frustrating lack of judgment. I'm happy to report that they seem fine, though. The older one, "Betsy" is in university, studying music theory with a minor in business, and the younger one, "Arlene," is graduating high school this year with honors and plans a career in biochemistry. I don't know how they got like that, with heads screwed on straight. It can't have come from my brother's side.

And taking them wine tasting, and then on a balloon ride....completely bone-headed. I feel sorry for the other passengers and cannot, for the life of me, believe BIL didn't get charged for their ruined fares.

I guess that's another part that upset me at the time - cap obv wondered why I cared so much since I wasn't there...well, yeah, I DO care...and I was also freaking offended, since, HEY, I told you what happened...and you still thought it was a good idea to take them to a place that exclusively serves alcohol and then on a dangerous activity that under ideal conditions can still be very dangerous?? Gee...he must REALLY think I'm dishonest and would deliberately mislead him; that I'm so insecure that I would try to slander someone....I may be lots of things, and have my own terribly long list of imperfections, but seriously....specifically NOT slandering people is what I earned my professional degree in; Hence, the insult. Plus, the very avoidable drama.
That burns. Or, it used to.
Now, it's just funny and stupid to me. So why not laugh about it?
