Britain has launched a campaign to urge young British holidaymakers in Greece to stay out of alcohol-related trouble, a British foreign office minister said.

Chris Bryant, who visited Greece to promote the foreign office's campaign "another side to paradise", said the British government wanted young Britons to return home safe.

"We want to do everything we possibly can to make sure those young people take sensible precautions, don't go over the top and come back in one piece," he said after meeting Greek officials.

Britons account for a fifth of the 15 million tourists visiting Greece every year, one of Europe's biggest tourism destinations. But some have gained notoriety for drunken, indecent, and sometimes violent behaviour.

Tourists aged between 16 and 20 account for more than 70 per cent of Britain's consular cases in Greece, even though they represent just a third of all the Britons on holiday in the Mediterranean country, British foreign office data show.

Leaflets and business cards that read "Don't get spiked, keep an eye on your drink" and "If you drink too much, things can get out of hand" will be handed this summer to young Britons travelling to Greece.