pathy for the initiative? About 70 per cent would back the initiative, according to a representative survey by research institute gfs.bern in 2024. The main reason is noise pollution. Opponents argue that a ban is excessive. The counter-proposal has not yet been drafted and the parties have yet to adopt a position. The Swiss Trade Association warns of a “prohibition culture”, which would deprive children of a tradition. The Association also contends that the ban would affect the SME sector. “Sector under threat” “The initiative threatens an entire sector,” says business owner Linda Feller. Many small retailers would go out of business without their firework sales revenue. Advocates of the ban counter that it is mainly firework volcanoes that are produced in Switzerland and they are not affected. Most of the fireworks are imported from China. The committee behind the initiative has indicated it is willing to consider an “effective” counter-proposal. Whether that will suffice remains to be seen. Simon Hubacher from Swiss Animal Protection sees the initiative as pragmatic: besides quiet fireworks and big official occasions, laser and drone shows and bonfires are still allowed. “Private firecrackers have nothing to do with tradition.” Hubacher refers to another survey finding from 2024: although most respondents enjoy watching fireworks, most people rarely, if ever, actually buy fireworks – and, when they do, they usually opt for the silent ones. That fits with the thrust of the initiative. Assuming the initiative is not withdrawn in favour of an acceptable counter-proposal, the electorate will most likely vote in 2026 on whether Switzerland should get rid of loud fireworks. animals sustain injuries trying to flee. Dogs suffer so much that their owners take them across the border. Danger to people People also suffer from the noise, especially the elderly and mentally afflicted, argue the supporters of the ban. The noise of fireworks is limited by law to 120 decibels, from a certain distance. By way of comparison, a jackhammer reaches 100 decibels. Fireworks also lead to accidents and fires. Between 2018 and 2022, there were about 200 accidents every year at 1 August celebrations, according to the Swiss Council for Accident Prevention. These mainly took the form of burns and hearing damage. Commonly accidents were caused by people tinkering with fireworks, getting distracted or being careless. Last New Year’s Eve there was a fatality: a 46-year-old died in the canton of Lucerne when handling a firework firing system. And a 14-year-old was seriously injured in the canton of Valais when fireworks detonated in the middle of a crowd. Advocates of the ban also refer to environmental problems. Over a tonne of generated waste is left lying around and the fine dust particles accumulate. Fine dust is released when fireworks burn, as well as carbon dioxide and more besides. According to the 2014 study by the Federal Office for the Environment, the fine dust daily limit is “often exceeded” on 1 August and New Year’s Eve. Over the course of a year, however, fireworks only account for about two per cent of all fine dust emissions. The authorities advise older people and persons with respiratory or circulatory diseases to avoid fireworks. Parliament considers counter- proposal The initiative is being reviewed in Berne. The Federal Council recommends rejecting it, arguing that a national rule is not needed, as the cantons and municipalities could issue their own bans. However, the parliament has indicated it is ready to compromise. The preliminary committees of the Council of States and National Council voted in January and April 2025 to elaborate an indirect counter-proposal. The need to protect people and animals from noise pollution was “justified”, it argued. The counter-proposal is to stipulate a ban on firecrackers without visual effects in the Explosives Act. Is this rapprochement a response to surveys, which show a lot of symYoung people preparing to launch a rocket firework. It’s a risky business: about 200 firework-related accidents occur every Swiss National Day. Photo: Keystone www.feuerwerksinitiative.ch Swiss Review / July 2025 / No.3 10 Society
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