Fireworks ban on New Year's Eve: concerns and consequences for Aichach!

Fireworks ban on New Year's Eve: concerns and consequences for Aichach!

On December 23, 2025, many people are preparing for the upcoming New Year's Eve celebrations, while the discussion about fireworks bans in Germany is intense. On New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, there is a general ban on fireworks in the town square and the surrounding area in the city of Aichach, which comes into force from December 31st to January 1st. This ban includes carrying, shooting or burning any pyrotechnic objects. The ban has been successfully implemented in recent years and has helped prevent riots. Police forces will monitor the ban and violators can be punished with a fine of up to 1,000 euros. Further information can be found in the relevant regulations and in the site plan, such as Aichach reported.

The discussion about a general ban on firecrackers in Germany is gaining momentum. According to ZDF, many citizens now support such a ban, while pyrotechnicians remain skeptical. The police union in Berlin has launched a petition entitled “Nationwide ban on firecrackers, now!” initiated, which has already collected over 2.3 million signatures. This petition is described as the largest in Germany and shows the growing social pressure for a ban.

Arguments for and against the firecracker ban

A broad alliance under the hashtag “#böllerciao”, which is supported by almost 60 organizations, particularly in environmental and animal protection, is calling for a ban on fireworks. The reasons for this are the high fine dust emissions from fireworks, which cause health problems, especially among children, as well as the annual accidents and injuries, which also had fatal consequences such as five deaths on New Year's Eve 2024. Additionally, many pets suffer from the stress and anxiety caused by the banging noises. The fact that the Federal Environment Agency reports around 2,050 tonnes of fine dust from fireworks every year, mainly on New Year's Eve, also fits into this context, which further underlines the environmental impact of celebrations, as Die Zeit analyzes.

In the discussion about a ban on firecrackers, reference is often made to the tradition of fireworks. Opponents of the ban argue that this tradition should be preserved and point out that most serious injuries are caused by illegal fireworks. Initiatives to ban firecrackers have already been taken in 2025 in some federal states, including Bremen and Berlin. In addition, a survey shows that 63% of Germans support such a ban, while parties such as the Greens and the Left are clearly in favor of a ban. The CDU and CSU, on the other hand, reject a blanket ban.

Legal framework and international examples

The legal basis for a ban on firecrackers is already available. German explosives law distinguishes between different categories of pyrotechnic objects. While category F1, such as sparklers, are available all year round for young people aged 12 and over, the use of category F2 fireworks, i.e. firecrackers, is only permitted on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Discussions about removing this exception are becoming increasingly important. In comparison to other European countries, some countries, such as the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Romania, have already introduced stricter rules or even complete bans on firecrackers.

The pyrotechnics industry in Germany is recording record sales. In 2024, total sales were 197 million euros, an increase from 122 million euros in 2019. The discussion about a ban on firecrackers remains controversial, as both health and environmental concerns are affecting the growth of the industry. The injury statistics, which often affect young men on New Year's Eve, especially under the age of 24, also raise questions about safety and responsibility.