The lager foam remained on my furry peach mustache as I sipped my first beer. I was twelve years old and indulging in alcohol was not a wise decision. I didn't know the impact it would have on my life or the consequences of drinking. Thinking about the consequences and effects of the choices we make is a thought process erased by increased alcohol consumption. As I grew up and became capable of driving, the opportunity to drink and drive presented itself quite often. Although I never drove drunk, I was guilty of drinking a beer and then driving, but this practice stopped when life threw tragedy at me. My godmother was killed by a drunk driver and my father, who was in the car, was also seriously injured. This shock-filled experience helped shape my view of alcohol and its use, especially in relation to driving. Now, as an adult, my position is strongly on the side of drinking alcohol when I'm about to drive. The social aspect of drinking is what drives many people to drink, but the act of driving while intoxicated is a dangerous choice. She left the house with a beaming smile, and that same smile continued as I watched her open the car door with my father firmly entrenched in the driver's seat. They were going to buy a tire for his car which was three miles from our house. Time passed at a snail's pace and by the end my brothers and I were wondering where my father and godmother were. Within an instant my mother screamed for me and I ran to her as if my life depended on it. Instead my life wasn't in the balance it was my godmother who lost hers. Instantly shattered and numb, I was afraid to ask the next question, but my mother took… half the paper away from me… as she fell asleep at the wheel with a blood alcohol level that was twice the legal limit. The car overturned twice and Jeffrey was thrown out like a rag doll, but he survived and to this day does not drink. I have several acquaintances who drink a glass of wine, a shot of liquor, a beer or two and then go home carefree. While every individual has their own tolerance level when it comes to alcohol, the missing factor that seems to be missing from everyone's mind is the legality of drunk driving regardless of consumption. Drunk driving is illegal and don't misunderstand the importance of understanding how quickly one beer can lead to two. By considering these factors people will learn to make better decisions when it comes to drinking and driving. Having the ability to get into a car and drive is a privilege that should not be taken lightly.