The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday, Sept. 9, edition that in light of government budget deficits, it is important to assess the costs of alcohol, especially with Ontario's recent decision to expand alcohol sales. The Globe's guest columnists Jean Blacklock and Andrew Auerbach write that the net cost of alcohol use is $6.4-billion, twice that of tobacco. Despite this, Canada lacks the same level of regulations and education for alcohol as it does for tobacco. The Canadian government cannot argue that the topic of alcohol use has not been thoroughly researched. The 2023 Final Report on Canada's Guidance on Alcohol and Health from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction surprised many by changing the recommended low-risk drinking to no more than two drinks per week. The report also suggested providing easy-to-use information on alcohol containers and tailored education for specific groups. Some provinces' decisions to increase access to alcohol are out of step with the report, prompting health organizations to recommend mitigating strategies such as prohibiting alcohol sales near schools and daycares. The guest columnists say the economic cost of alcohol far exceeds its economic benefit.