The next time you are at your favorite watering hole, take a good long look at the drink in your hand. It was because of one drink, just like the one in your hand, that someone is dead.

But, don’t worry, the person that committed the crime will be back on the street in no time.

Little more than a scold was issued to Nathan Schrank on Friday.

Schrank along with three others, Emily Hobbs, Christopher Tadder and Fred J. Jakob, pleaded guilty to their charges to the 2007 death of Luis Noriega.

Hobbs pleaded guilty to aggravated battery and was sentenced to two and a half years of probation, three months in county jail, 100 hours of community service, must undergo anger management and alcohol treatment and pay a $1,950 fine.

Tadder pleaded guilty to aggravated battery received a sentence of 88 days in DeKalb County Jail, two and a half years probation, 100 hours of community service and must undergo anger management counseling.

Jakob pleaded guilty to aggravated battery and was sentenced to three months in DeKalb County Jail, two and a half years probation, 100 hours of community service and must undergo anger management counseling

And it was all because of a drink.

On April 17, 2007, Noriega was beaten to death outside of Reilly’s Bar and Eatery, 1215

Blackhawk Road by Schrank and three others. Witnesses said, after getting his drink before Schrank’s girlfriend, Emily Hobbs, Noriega was threatened by Hobbs that he would meet her boyfriend later.

That night, Noriega was severely beaten because of the misunderstanding that happened inside the bar. Noriega died later the next day from injuries he sustained.

And it was all because of a drink.

Friday, Schrank was issued the mind-boggling sentence of six months in jail, followed by one year of work release, followed by six months of electronic home monitoring, and two and a half years of probation.

The crime committed was senseless, and a sea of questions is still surrounding the incident. It’s impossible to conceive why a violent crime was committed simply because of a misunderstanding over a drink.

What is even more senseless is the sentence. Schrank’s fate was in the hands of Presiding Circuit Court Judge Kurt Klein, who decided that Schrank deserved just three months in jail. It’s hard to fathom how a judge who presided over the trial and witnessed the proceedings unfold could give such a light sentence.

It’s puzzling how a judge could see the family of the victim and how negatively the death of their loved one affected them, yet still gave such a light sentence.

Four and a half years from now, high school seniors will be getting their college degrees and Schrank will be able to go back to living his life. In a short four and a half years the punishment will be over. However, Noriega’s family will still be haunted by his death.

Four and a half years for involuntary manslaughter and aggravated battery ­— that’s it.

One man is dead because of a drink and the people who are responsible are barely getting punished.

The three others involved will be back to regular life in less than three years.

This sentence is a joke.

And it was all because of a drink.