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There are one or two questions every person who drinks alcohol and also operates a vehicle should ask when the subject of driving home comes up.

The first one is obvious - should I? - and of course, the answer is no. But if, as is sometimes the case, the answer is yes, the second question is far more personal and probing - can I live with the consequences?

Knowing the pain you may inflict on an innocent person or family should be enough not to drive irresponsibly. But those who apparently aren't concerned with the potential victim might consider the consequences to themselves, including a long list of unsavory realities: arrest, court, fines, jail, loss of driving privileges, public disgust, having your name printed in the court section of the local newspaper, and just in case you haven't suffered enough, astronomical car insurance rates that hang around for a several years.

On Monday, the consequences for two local impaired drivers went even further. One young mother drove the vehicle in which her friend was killed, and she's gone to prison for 32 months. A young soldier at CFB Gagetown ran down a fellow soldier, seriously injuring him, and has just begun a prison term of 28 months.

Dealing with prison might be difficult enough, but dealing with yourself after making such a horrific mistake is another matter entirely.

Julie Dorcas, the 26-year-old whose friend was killed because of her drunk driving, told the court, "I do not believe that I deserve any pity, nor do I want any."

Those are the words of a woman overcome with the reality of her actions. She has a lifetime to ponder the outcome of one stupid decision, the consequences of which are so far-ranging, no amount of time served will ever fix the situation. Her friend is dead because of her and she is acutely aware of that fact.

If the sorrow and shame of Julie Dorcas aren't enough to prompt a life lesson, perhaps the sorrow and shame your family and friends will endure because of one stupid mistake will do it.

Parents will wonder where they went wrong. Buddies will bear the guilt of not doing more to stop you. Spouses and children will suffer the financial burden and humiliation of your disappearance from their day-to-day lives. Imagine the pain of a child pointed out as the kid whose mom or dad killed someone.

No one climbs into a car thinking they'll injure or kill someone while driving drunk. No one. But it happens - and it's naive for anyone to think it can't happen to them.

Back to the question - can I live with the consequences? Take a lesson from the case of Julie Dorcas, make a smart decision and say no.