Almost half of all Germans want a ban on fireworks

In the early hours of Monday [December 29], residents in the state of Thuringia called the police out to a local supermarket, warning that thieves were trying to break in. But when the police arrived, the group of young men, armed with hot tea and blankets, just wanted to be first in line when the supermarket opened. December 29 is the start of the three-day window in Germany when fireworks can be sold, to adults over the age of 18, to celebrate New Year's Eve.

All over the country, undeterred by the cold and dark, people line up and wait every year for fireworks to go on sale. The coveted products have names like Giftzwerg ("poison dwarf"), Hysteria, Hurricane Force. The fireworks come in brightly colored packages of various sizes, with a fuse sticking out.

When the fuse is lit, they shoot up into the air. Black powder produces loud explosions, while colorful effects are created by metal powder, in combination with other chemicals.

Germany has a long tradition of people letting off their own fireworks on New Year's Eve. For the manufacturers, it's a profitable and steadily growing business. The German Pyrotechnic Industry Association calculates that in 2024 its turnover was €197 million ($232 million) — a record high, up from €180 million the previous year. The association estimates that 10% to 15% more goods will be on sale in 2025.

Yet only 22% of people living in Germany want to see in the New Year with a private fireworks display. These were the findings of a representative survey of 2,500 people over the age of 18 by the opinion research institute Civey. The survey was commissioned by Germany's Association of Technical Inspection Agencies (TÜV).

"It's only a minority of people who set off their own firecrackers, rockets, or other fireworks on New Year's Eve," says Joachim Bühler, the CEO of the TÜV association. He explains that the tradition is most popular among younger people and families with children.

But while some regard fireworks as colorful, exciting, and fun, the rockets and firecrackers have serious downsides. In addition to creating an enormous amount of trash, the Federal Environment Agency records that burning fireworks to ring in the new year generates more than 2,000 metric tons of fine particulates, which constitute a risk to health. 2,000 tons is around 1% of Germany's entire annual particulate pollution.

The most serious concern, however, is that injuries and damage to property are increasing year on year, especially in big cities. Firecrackers can cause serious injuries like acoustic trauma, burns and the loss of body parts, such as fingers or an entire hand.

More and more often, injuries are caused by fireworks that have been purchased illegally on black markets in Poland, Czechia and the Netherlands, and have considerably more explosive power. According to the police, they're comparable to bombs and grenades. In 2024, two young men died in Germany after handling so-called spherical bombs that contained more than 600 grams of black powder. A doctor described one of the men as having been "ripped to shreds."

This year, fireworks have been banned for the first time in large parts of Czechia. Starting in 2026, the Netherlands is banning private fireworks altogether. The hope is that this will stop the two countries being used as key transshipment points for home-made firecrackers and goods smuggled in from China.

German customs officials report that in 2024 they seized more than seven tons of pyrotechnics that were not authorized for use in Germany. That's considerably more than in all three of the previous years put together.

"For many people, ordinary fireworks aren't enough anymore," warned Jochen Kopelke, the chair of the federal German Police Union. "They want them to be more and more powerful, with big explosions and lots of fire."

There has also been an increase in the deliberate use of pyrotechnics as a weapon, including against police officers, firefighters and paramedics. Aggression and violence tend to break out on New Year's Eve, especially in the bigger cities. Some neighborhoods almost resemble a war zone.

This is why the security services are calling for a blanket ban on all fireworks. A petition to this effect, launched by the police trade union (GdP) in Berlin, has already been signed by almost 2.5 million people.

The branch leader of the GdP in Berlin, Stephan Weh, believes politicians have to do something.

"All that's happened in the last few years has been the imposition of localized bans on firecrackers, guns and knives, in specific zones. But these make no difference to the excesses of violence," he says. "We don't want to wait until one of our colleagues loses their life in this wild, senseless firecracker frenzy."

More than 50 civil society organizations have also come together to call for a ban on private New Year's Eve fireworks, under the hashtag #böllerciao ("Bye-bye, firecrackers"). Medical associations, Environmental Action Germany, animal welfare organizations, and the German Children's Fund are among those supporting the initiative. Around 750,000 people have signed their petition.

Increased aggression on New Year's Eve also affects people's perception of security. The TÜV survey found that almost one in three — women in particular — do not feel safe in public if there are firecrackers around. 32% of those surveyed and 45% of women surveyed said they didn't feel safe outside on New Year's Eve because of fireworks.

More and more people would welcome restrictions on private fireworks. Almost half are in favor of a total ban, with only the smallest fireworks excepted, such as sparklers or table fireworks. 22% would like to see a ban on firecrackers, both large and small.

However, there are also people — 33%, according to the survey — who reject any sort of ban, citing tradition and personal freedom.

There is no prospect of a nationwide ban on private fireworks any time soon, as Germany's state and federal interior ministers have not been able to reach agreement on this. The state premier of Lower Saxony, Olaf Lies, is relying on local decision-making instead.

"Lots of local authorities stipulate areas where people are not allowed to set off fireworks," he says.

It's true that more and more prohibited zones have been established in Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Munich and other big cities, particularly in the town centers. And it's completely forbidden all over Germany to let off fireworks in the vicinity of hospitals, churches, children's homes, old people's homes and airports.

This article has been translated from German.