No Smoking Day organisers estimate that three-quarters of smokers would like to stop — and more than 1.5 million try to on No Smoking Day.

With 114 people killed in 2004 as a result of fires caused by smoking-related materials, divisional officer Steve Herron said Tayside Fire & Rescue fully supported No Smoking Day.

“There is a concern that when the smoking ban comes into place there may be an increase in fires in the home,” he said.

“If people are not allowed to smoke in public areas or at work, they may choose to do it at home and then we could be facing a lot more fires.”

Primary school children visited the Blackness station to take part in a no-smoking poster competition and were given goody bags and gift vouchers, while fifth year Harris Academy pupils also attended the event.

Representatives from NHS Tayside gave those in attendance a graphic reminder of the effects of smoking with a “Tar in a Jar” display.

The jar showed just how much tar accumulates in the lungs of someone who smokes 20 cigarettes a day for a year.

Scottish health minister Andy Kerr said there had never been a better time to stop smoking.

Speaking ahead of the March 26 ban, Mr Kerr said he believed the move would help many people give up — citing in support evidence from Ireland and New York.

“I know how difficult it is to stop smoking, but it is the best decision a smoker can make.

“Stopping smoking is not only good for the health of the individual but Scotland as a whole.

“That is why we are investing record levels of funding — £11 million by 2007/8 — in services to support people who want to give up.”

Mr Kerr said Scots should be proud they were leading the way in the UK.

The Executive has released figures from a new survey on attitudes to smoking in public places.

They show that 61% of people support the ban — with even 26 per cent of smokers backing the new law, and 14% saying the ban would help them quit.

There has been concern in Scotland that jobs in the leisure and licensed trade industries could be at risk once the ban comes into force.

However, in New Zealand — where a smoking ban was introduced in 2004 — a report has found no downturn in bar retail sales, tourism or employment.

Published by the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation, the study considered a range of issues such as smoking behaviour, public opinion, economic data and compliance levels.

It found that while there was an initial downturn in bar and club sales in March 2005, they quickly recovered and sales went up 3% in the June 2005 quarter and almost 1% in the September 2005 quarter.

Figures from the Household Labour Force Survey in New Zealand showed increased employment in pubs, bars and taverns in each of the March, June and September quarters of 2005, compared to the same periods in 2004.

The report also found that there has been an increase in the patronage of bars and cafes by non-smokers, suggesting that they have been attracted to these venues by the smoke-free environment.