Warnings on alcoholic drinks do little to change the behaviour of younger drinkers, an Australian study has found.

Deakin University's Professor Peter Miller, who carried out the study, said the findings made it clear the current, optional warning system, overseen by the industry-funded body DrinkWise, was not working.

A study has found that alcohol labels are ineffective in changing the drinking behaviours of younger people. Credit:Arsineh Houspian

"We need to be sure, as consumers, that our government are the people that are looking after our rights. We can't trust the alcohol industry to supply us with information about alcohol. It's as idiotic as doing it with tobacco," Professor Miller said.

Geoff Munro, from the Alcohol and Drug Foundation, said something needed to be done to combat the widespread societal harm that alcohol causes including assaults, family violence and drink driving.