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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think fireworks should only be sold under licence?

52 replies

ColdSancerre · 05/11/2011 22:42

I just think, with so many organised displays available that selling them to the general public isn't a great idea. They're dangerous if not dealt with properly, they're annoying when they are being let off late at night. Why not just limit them to organised displays?

OP posts:

whatever117 · 06/11/2011 03:52

I thought they already were - ie to over 18s?

ZeldaUpNorth · 06/11/2011 07:20

I would've loved to of taken the kids to a display but ours was £6 each so would've cost over £30 for us all :( ended up just watching them out the window (which isn't nearly as good)

JaneBirkin · 06/11/2011 07:27

NOT AS BORING as Scandinavia.

Anyway I agree they should be license only. Not a total ban, just firework displays by licensed parties and just at weekends and mainly at this time of year.

We didn't do anything last night though have for the past few years had nice quiet firewroks in the garden...it's too cold and too much faff, so we just look out the window or go and watch a display nearby from up a hill if we are feeling particularly adventurous.

Bubbaluv · 06/11/2011 07:32

You have to have a licence here (Sydney). It's pretty much organised displays only.

Here, though, there is the added concern of bushfire from stray fireworks hence the ban.

It is enforced too. It would be very rare to hear a firework except on NYE etc.

Sirzy · 06/11/2011 07:34

I certainly think they should limit the size of the ones available to the general public. Some of them as stupid sizes to set off in your average back garden and I would imagine very few of them are set off at the correct distances to properties.

I also think that (other on nye) they shouldn't be allowed to be set off after 10.30pm

rogersmellyonthetelly · 06/11/2011 07:44

My horse ( bloody enormous neurotic diva that he is) has ear plugs in tonight, and also on new years eve. He's a sensitive little soul and tends to throw a wobbler if he hears loud bangs. If it wasn't for these we would have to have him sedated.
I agree that fireworks are getting louder. When I was younger they seemed to be more visual and less noisy, now everything seems to make huge bangs or horrible screeches. We had a box last night which were specifically quiet ones, Catherine wheels, roman candles etc. The dog sat outside with us and watched, totally not bothered by the noise. Then next door started and we had to take her inside As theirs were very loud.

Original poster

ColdSancerre · 06/11/2011 07:49

Zelda did they charge £6 for kids? The one we went to last night was £6 for adults and £3 for children (£5/£2 if bought in advance but that's a risk as watching fireworks in the rain isn't great fun).

OP posts:

TestAnswers · 06/11/2011 09:01

YANBU - I think a licence is a good idea, preferably with some training (it is clear that many people do not know the law about not setting them off after 11 pm on non-exempt days). I think you should also have to submit information about when you are planning to set them off and where (approx) to some kind of website that will alert people in the area to them (if they have animals etc).
As for it being boring - I don't find it particuarly interesting to be woken on random nights of the year, after the time they are illegal, by a display and the barking of my dogs - which continues for a long time after the fireworks stop.

jenfraggle · 06/11/2011 09:30

I feel that they should only be able to be set off on Nov 5th. As for Diwali and Eid, they are nothing to do with this country. Part of living in a country involves embracing the culture of that country. We shouldn't be making innocent animals suffer for religion which has nothing to do with the traditions of the UK.

TidyDancer · 06/11/2011 09:33

YANBU, OP.

I would be quite happy for fireworks to be limited to public displays, or at the very least only allowed with a permit. It should be okay to have them in private gardens, but the fact is some people are thick and inconsiderate enough to ruin it for others. They are never restricted to the most appropriate nights either. Once they are on sale, we are stuck with them for weeks on end.

The entertainment value of them will never outweigh the nuisance.

GypsyMoth · 06/11/2011 09:33

Jen?? That's a but, er, ignorant?

GypsyMoth · 06/11/2011 09:33

*bit

TidyDancer · 06/11/2011 09:34

Yes, Jen, that is ignorant. And borderline racist actually.

jenfraggle · 06/11/2011 09:59

How is wanting to keep traditions of this country racist? There are lots of countries that insist on putting their traditions before others, why shouldn't we be proud of Britain and being British?

Sirzy · 06/11/2011 10:01

You can be british and a muslim you know. Or British and any other religion.

How does someone celebrating eid have a negative impact on you, or even on the country?

TidyDancer · 06/11/2011 10:13

Jen, that's not what you're insisting though, is it? You're suggesting these other things shouldn't be celebrated because they aren't what? White British in heritage? That's racist.

This is nothing to do with being proud of Britain and being British. It's deeply worrying that you can't see that.

pigletmania · 06/11/2011 10:35

YABVVVU are you part of the elf n safety brigade! I am 7 months pg, I don't want to go to an organised display standing round for ages, and you hardly see a thing. I would rather have a private display with friends and family in familiar surroundings. They are not unsafe unless you are sensible, and take necessary preaucautions. My dad used to do them in the garden, and I have lovely memories of it, and the big bonfire he used to build with roasted jackets on it! He is dead now, but the memories live on!

TurkeyBurgerThing · 06/11/2011 11:11

It amazes me that anyone can buy them really!

TidyDancer · 06/11/2011 11:14

I know Turkey. It's not right, is it? It's a real worry that explosives are so easy to get.

DreamsOfSteam · 06/11/2011 11:39

Even when handled properly they CAN be unsafe. My DB ended up in hospital some time ago when a fire work at a private display malfunctioned. All the safety advice had been followed and the people watching were the recommended distance away, but one of the fireworks broke and shot into the crowd, hitting a young girl and setting fire to her coat. My DB ended up with burns ripping the coat off the little girl. IMO that chance outways any enjoyment they bring.

Same DB also has permanent blue specks 'tatooed' onto his face from another firework that went off very close to him when he was in his teens. but I suspect that one was entiely down to his own fault

Grevling · 06/11/2011 11:51

"I also think that (other on nye) they shouldn't be allowed to be set off after 10.30pm"

There are already limits 11pm on most nights and 1am on NYE.

www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/InYourHome/Escapingandrecoveringfromafire/DG_064665

"I feel that they should only be able to be set off on Nov 5th. As for Diwali and Eid, they are nothing to do with this country. Part of living in a country involves embracing the culture of that country. We shouldn't be making innocent animals suffer for religion which has nothing to do with the traditions of the UK."

Wow. Have the first I've ever handed out. Might I ask you to come down to Leicester sometime walk round this city and tell large parts population they have nothing to do with the UK most of who have been living in the UK for longer than me and i was born here.

"How is wanting to keep traditions of this country racist? There are lots of countries that insist on putting their traditions before others, why shouldn't we be proud of Britain and being British?"

I'd mock you but the challenge is gone :o

Maryz · 06/11/2011 12:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 06/11/2011 12:08

Absolutely agree with you, OP, but also agree with Worra about the licences. So many kids at school used to threaten others with firecrackers. It was a relief with firework season (September-December) was over with.

I was in a plastic surgery hospital and visited the burns ward. Some of the poor children there were so horrifically burned from fireworks. It's just not worth taking risks over and children just don't foresee the consequences until it's all too late.

lesley33 · 06/11/2011 12:14

I would be happy for them to be restricted to certain nights only and even for a lower legal limit to be set on the noise any 1 firework could emit. But I wouldn't be happy with only having only organised displays. The real problems come from idiots who throw fireworks, let them off in streets, etc. A ban I suspect would have little impact on these people - if they can get drugs, guns, etc they will be able to get fireworks. It would just end up penalising sensible people like myself.

SacreLao · 06/11/2011 14:16

Jen that is really racist.

You say why should innocent animals suffer for non UK celebrations, why should they suffer
For any celebrations?

If you moved or went away to another country would you expect to be banned from
celebrating Christmas?

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