Peck appointed director of Smokefree Coalition

A former Invercargill MP who publicly struggled with his own addictions with alcohol and has admitted to problems with gambling is the new director of the Smokefree Coalition.

Mark Peck said he intended to make business difficult for the tobacco industry and would try to discourage as many young people as possible from becoming addicted to smoking.

While very good legislation was passed in 2003 regulating smokefree environments, much work remained to reduce the terrible toll taken on New Zealanders by smoking-related illness and death, Mr Peck said.

"Issues around taxation, point of sale display and health warnings on cigarette packets clearly need a kick along," he said.

Mr Peck said he believed it was vital the coalition moved to do all that it could to discourage young people from starting to smoke.

"It is well known that the tobacco industry needs young people to commence smoking to replace adults who have quit, or died from smoking-related illnesses."

Mr Peck said that increasing the price of cigarettes, and introducing graphic pictorial health warnings on tobacco packets were two of the tools that could be used to prompt people to quit smoking, and encourage young people to stay smokefree.

Mr Peck entered a rehab for alcohol addiction in February last year after he was charged with drink-driving and careless use of a motor vehicle when he crashed his car near Queenstown.

Mr Peck also admitted to having problems with gambling.

Mr Peck replaces Leigh Sturgiss who resigned after five years as director.

- NZPA