Drinks companies should be required by law to put printed labels on their products warning of the dangers of alcohol, it has been claimed.

Bruce Clark from Melton, whose son died in 1999 from alcohol poisoning, told the Melton Weekly that current safety campaigns do not go far enough.

He pointed out that other drugs carry warnings about the potential negative effects that may be associated with them, so insisted alcohol should be no different.

"If it is good enough for aspirin, it should be the same for alcohol. Caffeine is more regulated than alcohol as far as labelling is concerned, in my opinion," the bereaved father commented.

Earlier this month, printed labels featuring warnings were rolled out by DrinkWise Australia, passing on messages such 'it is safest not to drink while pregnant' to people in the country.

Mr Clark's comments may be particularly pertinent after a study by the American Association of Wine Economists found that many wine producers are deliberately understating the alcoholic volume of their products.

Denny Bros Ltd, 20 July 2011