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Most Germans Plan to Skip New Year’s Fireworks, Poll Finds

With the federal Interior Ministry rejecting a national ban, any limits are likely to be set by states and cities.

Overview

  • A nationally representative YouGov survey of 2,050 adults conducted Oct. 29–31 found 63% will not set off fireworks and another 13% probably will not.
  • Support for tighter rules is substantial, with 24% favoring a general ban and 34% preferring only organized displays.
  • Leading reasons for limits include concern for animals (52%), street litter (40%), and injury risk (32%), along with strain on emergency services and fine-particle pollution.
  • The Federal Interior Ministry says a nationwide prohibition would be disproportionate and points to existing powers for Länder and municipalities.
  • Advocacy groups including Deutsche Umwelthilfe and Berlin’s police union back a ban and report a petition with more than 1.9 million signatures, while most people plan to celebrate indoors rather than outside.