I ask after Sainsburyβs announced the decision not to sell fireworks in any of its stores for the first time this year.
Itβs a move thatβs sparked huge debate, with some applauding the decision and others not. Which begs the question: are they right?
Interestingly, the supermarket hasn’t actually said why itβs made the decision, only that itβs based on last yearβs sales and the information is commercially sensitive, which presumably means they didnβt make enough money. Which is hardly surprising, given you canβt just pop them on the shelf in the seasonal aisle. They must be kept under lock and key at a counter physically manned by members of staff – which costs money. And as a journalist who writes about retail, I also know unsold stock canβt simply be stored at the back of the shop for next year, and it canβt be returned to the manufacturer either owing to the small matter of gun powder.
But all that aside, Sainsburyβs decision to ban the public sale of fireworks has been welcomed by animal rights groups on the grounds theyβre a nuisance to pets, and by many other people too. Theyβre calling for other retailers to follow suit – which I think is a real shame.
Surely it’s the responsibility of pet owners to ensure their pets are kept safely inside at this time of year? Why should everyone else be penalised? And if other supermarkets and retailers follow suit, where will it end? No more back garden get-togethers for friends and family, meaning we must pay to go to an organised display which often aren’t suitable for children of all ages.
And surely thereβs an alternative to an all-or-nothing approach? In Europe, for example, fireworks are split into categories based on their gun powder content and their use by non-professionals is restricted to certain days of the year. So, fireworks which pose little danger and are intended for use outside residential buildings in a closed space can be used for those back garden get-togethers on high days and holidays.
But not everyone agrees with me. I asked some fellow parenting bloggers what they think, and it seems Iβm in the minority in thinking an outright ban is unnecessary.
Is Sainsburyβs right to ban the sale of fireworks?
Yes!
βI welcome the ban,β says Claire at Life, Love and Dirty Dishes. βI have always hated fireworks. As a kid my dad always used to do a few in the back garden, I remember everyone having a great time, but I always had this fear that my Dad would get hurt. As an adult I find them a nuisance. Waking up the kids, scaring animals. I am all for an organised display. But I’ve never been able to get my head around selling something so potentially dangerous to the public.β
βI definitely agree with the ban – I don’t see any need for someone to have fireworks at home,β says Abi at Something About Baby. βThey’re such a dangerous product in the wrong hands, it seems crazy that anyone over a certain age can buy them. I have been to quite a few at home fireworks parties where things have gone wrong – including one where the host was pyrotechnics trained, yet still managed to send a rocket through his neighbours window, into their baby son’s nursery. Fortunately, no one was injured, and the damage wasn’t too bad, but it could have been a lot worse!β
βI totally agree,β says Laura at Edinburgh with Kids. βResidents who live round our local park have a huge bonfire each year, burning loads of stuff that shouldnβt be burnt (think chemical fumes that make the air horrific) that then damages the grass that then has to be repaired by the council. With the addition of fireworks itβs even more dangerous as thereβs no safety precautions – last year a block of houses was set alight by one that landed on the roof. If fireworks werenβt available my hope would be that people would be put off having this type of βcommunityβ fire and seek to either run something regulated or just go to a different event. I know animals donβt like them but to me the much bigger concern is the idiots who buy them with no concern about the safety of themselves, others, or general property.β
βYes, they should be banned from being sold to the public for so many reasons,β says Emma at Emma Reed. βYear after year my poor dog is terrified and if it was one day then I could accept that but it’s from the day they go on sale in October almost every night until January. January 15th being the latest date I have recorded in the past. I have tried contacting my MP, I have signed petitions, I have spoken to neighbours yet still haven’t got anywhere. People are inconsiderate and this is causing huge stress to those with young children, those with pets, PTSD, autism, the elderly and so on. It also costs the fire brigade huge amounts of money in accidents year on year. Having only organised displays would benefit so many people whilst still retaining that fun.β
βIβve wanted fireworks banned in shops for many years,β says Rachel at Rachel Bustin. βIβve seen first-hand how distressing it is to farm animals. This alongside the dangers to pets and wildlife is reason why they should only be available for organised displays.β
βI think they should be banned from easy to get places like supermarkets and that way they would get into the hands of silly children and grown-ups far less,β says Jade at Mummies Waiting, who says her local Tesco in Norfolk no longer sells fireworks either. βEven just limiting the sale will help people with pets, one day in a month is far better than seven!β
βI completely agree with the ban,β says Katie at Mummyβs Diary. βI think there should be only displays held by professionals. In the wrong hands theyβre very dangerous. I have a cat and young children and the loud noises really do scare and terrify them. When neighbours can set them off in their own back yards I feel it is irresponsible.β
βYes, they should be banned!β says Jada at Unique Young Mum. βI went to a firework display every year until three years ago, when some teenagers let fireworks off on a hill, only instead of having them pointing up to go to the sky, they let them off horizontal and loads of people were hurt by both the fireworks and by falling when everyone started running. I think they should be sold to professionals only! Also, it was only recently I read an article where a firework was put through a home letterbox causing the whole of the ground floor to set on fire. I 100% agree with Sainsburyβs decision and I hope the government step in to ban them for non-professionals altogether!β
No!
βI don’t agree with banning the sale,β says Vicky at The Mummy Bubble. βItβs such an infrequent thing that fireworks are set off widely across the country. Itβs really only bonfire night and new year. I think users need to be responsible but otherwise I think they’re just good fun.β
“When this argument rears its head I always think of people from ethnic or religious minorities whose festivals involve fireworks but may not be part of a wider community able to organise large displays,” says Rebecca at The Ish Mother. “I agree that fireworks should be less easily available but I don’t agree with banning all but public displays as this would inevitably impact on these people.”
“For some of us we don’t have the choice to go to public displays and I’m sorry some might not like this, but the pets afraid is becoming a pathetic excuse,” says Jade at Jade’s Journey. “Some pets don’t like it but it wouldn’t matter if it’s a public or private display as they would still hear them! What should be done is laws preventing the usage of them at home, make it so there are only so many days a year they can be used, restrict timings more. If you ban the sale it will also have a knock on effect for retailers and manufacturers which could see yet more financial difficulties in our supermarkets and shops.”
What do you think? Do you support Sainsbury’s decision not to sell fireworks? Or do you think it’s a step too far and there are other solutions to safeguarding the public – and pets? I’d love to know your thoughts!
They’re banned here (in Australia) after too many people blew body parts and eyes off. Been banned for about 40 years now….so I can’t really comment. Sparklers are ok tho….#Dreamteam
I’m not a massive fan of fireworks although I have been to a fair few garden party displays. One of which resulted in a multi box falling on it’s side and fireworks shooting off all around the garden. Thankfully no one was hurt.
Whether to ban them is a difficult question. Rather than banning, maybe there should be licenses introduced. People could be vetted before being given a license. Surely that alone would weed out a lot of the irresponsible buyers.
#MMBC
It’s a difficult one, bonfire night was always a big occasion for me during my childhood. Everyone used to have a bonfire and fireworks, we used to spend ages collecting wood and doing penny for the guy…this is up north incidentally, not sure if it was the same down south. Those days have obviously gone, but unfortunately, there will always be idiots who spoil it for everyone and we end up with restrictions or a ban. I think people are forgetting the historical significance of the event too. I agree that it’s only a couple of times in the year and a ban wouldn’t be fair…but at the same time there are too many idiots around that set them off at all hours and weeks before November. So maybe tighter restrictions on sales are needed rather than an outright ban. It’s a tough one. #MMBC
It is probably quite a sensible decision. If people were sensible and let them off just on the weekends around bonfire night and New Years Eve it wouldn’t be so bad but it gets to the point where there are fireworks every night in our area and whilst it doesn’t bother me, I can see that it would be very distressing for pets. #KCACOLS
It’s funny, they are illegal here in southern Ireland, but not up North … so trade is brisk and anyone who wants them, has them! Typically Irish! Our boy loves them! #KCACOLS
I wonder whether this is all just a good publicity stunt by Sainsburys. I mean, they haven’t really “banned” fireworks in their stores, they’ve just decided not to sell them this year. And, as you say, they haven’t actually said why, so it probably is all about money rather than for moral or ethical reasons. But it’s certainly got people talking about Sainsburys which is great advertising for them! #KCACOLS
I wouldn’t mind if fireworks was confined to a particular night but with Diwali and Bonfire Night being close together it usually ends up with some fireworks over a week or more. Our poor dog Ollie is terrified whenever he hears them so I support them being banned except for big events that are one offs. When I lived with my parents, our neighbours had huge fireworks that I’m sure should be illegal for homeowners. Thanks for linking up with #dreamteam
Here in the States there are certain small things that are available to buy in my area but anything large and dangerous is supposed to be banned. I think its a sensible middle ground. people can have their fun without annoying the entire neighborhood. One of those things where a few irresposible folk ruin in for everybody #KCACOLS
I don’t think we need to ban them from sale completely, but agree with you on maybe bringing in other restrictions on when they can be set off. We go to the big display that the council put on each year, but not everyone is able to do that and it seems a shame to take options away from people. #KCACOLS
This is the first year of us having a dog and the fireworks haven’t been too bad (yet) and our pup is coping well with them. However, I do agree with the ban to an extent. I think people should have some kind of license with them. They are dangerous to be used in gardens etc, in my opinion.
It’s a difficult one.
#KCACOLS
I don’t agree with the ban myself, but maybe the length of time that they are sold could be shortened, that way there would be less time people are letting them off and less distress to animals. Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next time.