Every year, millions of people celebrate by launching explosives into the sky. Every year, other animals panic, flee, injure themselves and sometimes die. And every year, we’re told that the solution is better preparation, quieter fireworks or a little more consideration.
Apparently, ending an entirely unnecessary source of suffering is still too much to ask.
On the 28th of October 2026, Scottish National Party MSP Patricia Gibson lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament calling for an end to the general public sale of fireworks.
The motion, supported by 12 other MSPs, recognises the fear, distress and injuries fireworks cause to companion animals, horses, other farmed animals and wildlife. It also highlights antisocial behaviour, unpredictable explosions and the disruption experienced by communities. It calls on the Scottish Government to press Westminster to restrict firework sales to licensed organisers of regulated displays, or transfer the necessary legislative powers to Scotland. This is a parliamentary motion, not a new law. But it adds to growing pressure for restrictions across Britain.
The UK Government has also been considering changes. Following a consultation that closed in October, ministers are examining proposals to reduce the maximum permitted noise level for consumer fireworks from 120 to 110 decibels and restrict the sale of louder products. A complete ban on public sales has already been ruled out.
So the Government acknowledges that fireworks cause harm, accepts that restrictions are necessary, but remains committed to preserving public access to the products responsible.
How reassuring.
The Victims Don’t Get a Vote
The consequences are considerably more serious than interrupted sleep or an irritated neighbour.
A 2026 study examining fireworks and equines surveyed 1,466 horse and donkey guardians across the UK. Among horse guardians, 63% reported adverse reactions to fireworks, while 8% reported fireworks-related injuries. Of those reported injuries, 12% resulted in death. Between November 2010 and March 2024, the British Horse Society recorded more than 1,000 incidents involving horses and fireworks, including 35 deaths and 270 injuries. And horses are hardly the only victims.
Recent reports have linked fireworks to the deaths of a baby red panda at Edinburgh Zoo and a dachshund in North Yorkshire. Birds can become disorientated and collide with buildings. Other animals may flee into roads, injure themselves attempting to escape or experience prolonged anxiety.
Even distress can be difficult to recognise. Horses frequently respond by fleeing, while donkeys may freeze. An animal who appears motionless is not necessarily calm. The expectation remains that everyone else should accommodate the celebrations of those causing the disturbance. Keep animals indoors. Close the curtains. Play music. Move horses somewhere safer. All because someone wants to make the sky explode.
Meanwhile, the proposed solutions rarely confront the underlying entitlement. Professional displays may offer advance warning, but the equine study found that organised displays were associated with higher reported fear among horses than private displays.
Likewise, quieter fireworks do not eliminate flashes, unpredictable explosions or the possibility of distress.
The British Veterinary Association has acknowledged these limitations, while campaigners warn that local firework control zones can simply push the problem into neighbouring areas.
There is nothing inherently sacred about explosive entertainment. Celebrations can exist without fireworks, and human enjoyment does not create an entitlement to terrorise other individuals.
At some point, we must stop asking how much suffering is acceptable and start questioning why we’re imposing it at all.
Sign These 4 UK Parliament Petitions
Public pressure is growing. Two previous parliamentary petitions attracted more than 180,000 signatures each, while an RSPCA campaign generated over 51,000 responses to the Government consultation. There are 4 further open petitions on the official UK Parliament website. UK residents can sign and share them, helping demonstrate continued public demand for change.
Closes 26 February 2027.
Calls for a seasonal ban on fireworks, disposable barbecues and open fires in public outdoor spaces, with exemptions for properly assessed organised events.
2. Ban indoor fireworks, sparklers and pyrotechnics in public venues
Closes 3 March 2027.
Seeks tighter regulation and a ban on indoor pyrotechnics because of the danger they pose to public safety.
3. Mandate low-noise fireworks, drone and laser displays instead of traditional fireworks
Closes 14 March 2027.
Proposes replacing conventional fireworks with lower-noise alternatives, drones and laser displays.
4. Ban summer firework sales and use, restrict permits and hold venues liable
Closes 30 March 2027.
Calls for restrictions between March and September, stricter permits and penalties for unauthorised displays.
These petitions propose different measures rather than a complete nationwide ban. Nevertheless, they provide opportunities to challenge the continued acceptance of unnecessary harm. Official parliamentary petitions reaching 10,000 signatures receive a Government response, while those reaching 100,000 are considered for debate.
26 Fireworks Petitions Anyone Can Support
Readers in Britain and internationally can sign and share these campaigns.
1. Review firework rules to protect animals from injury and distress
2. Seasonal ban of firework sales and disposable BBQs in the UK
3. Restrict fireworks to noise-suppressing types
4. Petition for public display fireworks only
5. Restrict fireworks to professional displays only in the UK
6. Fireworks to be banned for public use
7. Ban the sale of fireworks to the public and save animals’ lives
8. Ban fireworks except at authorised events on 5 November
9. Ban loud fireworks to protect wildlife and companion animals
10. Ban fireworks for personal use to protect animals
11. Ban sales of noisy fireworks to protect animals
12. Restrict the use of fireworks
13. Ban the sale of fireworks to the public
14. Ban fireworks over 75 decibels in Scotland
15. Ban all the use of fireworks in the UK
16. Ban fireworks for public sale
17. Ban the sale of fireworks to the general public
18. Bang Out of Order: Say No to Antisocial Fireworks
19. Ban over-the-counter sale of fireworks
20. Ban the public sale of fireworks in Scotland
21. Ban non-silent fireworks to the general public
22. Ban residential fireworks in Telford and Wrekin
23. Ban loud fireworks to protect animals and people with PTSD
24. Ban the public sale and private use of fireworks
25. Ban the sale of fireworks to the public
26. Ban fireworks in domestic settings
There is a substantial difference between calling for quieter explosions and rejecting the idea that anyone should be terrorised for entertainment. Not every petition goes far enough, but anyone who recognises the injustice has an opportunity to make their opposition visible, and when country changes others often follow. Sign the petitions. Demand change. Because no celebration is worth someone else’s suffering, and no tradition gives us the right to make them suffer.
Ban them all.Sick to death of them going off.Its frighting for animals and people.They are dangerous in the wrong hands.
Thank you for this. I signed all petitions.