While a person must be aged 18 years or over to buy CAT F2 and CAT F3 fireworks, at the moment an adult can give CAT F2 and CAT F3 fireworks to someone under the age of 18 years. The Bill would make it a criminal offence for someone aged 18 years or over to give CAT F2 or CAT F3 fireworks to someone under 18 years. If you agree with this proposal, rate it up (👍), if you disagree, rate it down (👎). Please tell us why you agree or disagree using the comment boxes below.
I agree with this part but my concern is over how it would be enforced. What evidence is there that the restriction on under-age drinking is effective?
fireworks should be monitored as to who can buy them and at what age and it extends to buying them for someone younger - fireworks are dangerous especially as they seem to be becoming more explosive
Certain young people can be irresponsible with fireworks.
This is an important although it should only be as a support for the previous controls e.g. limiting the use of fireworks to licenced personnel
Unscrupulous people will try to circumvent the law unless this provision is included
How could it ever be a good idea to hand over dangerous fireworks to a child?
Children having explosives has to be wrong.
it needs to change
make it illegal to give ANY firework to under 18's
It will help improve firework safety. Fireworks are dangerous and should only be used by train responsible people.
Fireworks are explosives and, if used at all, need to be used responsibly. Explosions are upsetting for humans, even if they are expected, and animals regardless.
Will force irresponsible adults to reconsider buying fireworks for minors.
People aged 18 and under should not have access to the purchasing and letting off of fireworks.
No under 18 should be handling fireworks other than sparklers
Fireworks look fabulous when used correctly at a properly organised display but can be extremely dangerous under certain circumstances, not to mention extremely distressing for animals. Some adults can't be trusted to use with cautions under 18's certainly can't
fireworks are potentially very dangerous. It is essential they are handled and used responsibly and taking all advised precautions.
Fireworks are too dangerous to be in the hands of young people.
No one under 18 should have access to fireworks as they are not adults and fireworks are dangerous.
No child should be able to buy or handle fireworks. The yare dangerous in the wrong hands
NO ONE UNDER 18 SHOULD BE IN POSSESSION OF FIREWORKS.
Teenagers don’t think about what they’re doing to the community by letting fireworks off, there’s absolutely no need for them to have them, they scare Wildlife, Pets & to be quite honest I’m getting sick of it being broad daylight and hearing a bomb like firework going off !
Fireworks should only be used by a responsible adult.In the wrong hands they are lethal.
Apart from sparklers why would anyone give a firework to a child? If anyone wants to enjoy a firework display it should be in the hands of a professional. Its safer.
Agree. Again how is this to be enforced? There are a lot of stupid adults walking this earth but many might abide if it became law - better than nothing.
Needs to be clear legal president.
The use of fireworks should be restricted as much as possible.
I agree.
It is dangerous. Adults should not be giving fireworks to those under 18
I think it is common sense to make it illegal to sell a firework of any kind to someone under the age of 18. It is madness that this is not already the case.
Younger people are more likely to be irresponsible and not appreciate the dangers or nuisance of fireworks
Fireworks should not be sold to the general public and noone under 18 should be on a commitee buying them
Anonymous User "My dog is terrified of fireworks and becomes desperately ill. In the lead up to Guy Fawkes day fireworks are let off with no warning Public events at advertised times are acceptable but fireworks should be banned to members of the public" So you bought a dog in full knowledge that noisy fireworks were in common use then you call for a firework ban because your dog doesn't like them. Isn't that a bit self centred and selfish?
JF Sionnach "The fewer the people getting their hands on explosive materials the better. Too many get badly hurt." The fewer people owning dogs the better. Far to many get maimed and killed by them.
Anonymous User "No fireworks of any description should be sold or given to under 18s" No sparklers for the kids then? It is already illegal to sell to under 18's.
Anonymous User "Children should not be able to buy explosives, they should not be available to the general public." Children ARE not able to buy explosives. 0
Anonymous User "Fireworks have the potential to cause devastating injuries. Under 18s are not able to assess/appreciate the risks" But the injuries are generally trivial compared to the regular dog maulings. The best way to learn responsible use is from instruction and guidance from responsible adults.
Marjorie Harris "Irresponsible and dangerous to sell to under 18s" Indeed, and that's why it is already illegal to do so.
Anonymous User "Agree children should not be handling explosives. Nor should adults." Who's going to fit the air bags to your car then?
Anonymous User "perhaps 18 is too young still? fireworks are dangerous if used carelessly". ...and perfectly safe if used responsibly as the vast majority do.
jenbell "Fireworks have become more powerful..." Factually incorrect. Fireworks are less powerful than they were 20 years ago and have not changed in power for over 10 years.
Ron "No unlicenced operator should be working with explosives, and explosives are what fireworks are. No under 18 should be using fireworks." Will the guy who replaces a faulty air bag in your car need such a licence? How about the farmer needing crow scarers?
Margaret Reynolds "I think it is common sense to make it illegal to sell a firework of any kind to someone under the age of 18. It is madness that this is not already the case." It is already the case.
Anonymous User "Fireworks are dangerous and must be used responsibly. No child should be allowed to handle them" So you would deny children from enjoying sparklers?
No child should have access to Fireworks
I'm amazed this is not already an offence as it is with alcohol etc. However my preference is a complete ban on their public sale & use.
Younger people don't always understand the impact fireworks have on animals (agricultural, wildlife and domestic) and it is the younger age bracket that are most likely to use fireworks antisocially. It needs to be illegal for over 18s to give younger people fiireworks otherwise the law will just be abused
Youths are more likely to use fireworks irresponsibly without care for the detrimental effects of them
under 18s should never handle fireworks. no point in having a law that says under18s shouldnt use them and then over 18s can buy them and give then let them distribute them to anyone.
Please just ban all fireworks. They are grossly antisocial.
Why give/sell explosives to any member of the public? It's already an offence to sell them to under-18s, so it should also be to give them to an under-18. No one of any age should handle fireworks without holding a licence
A complete ban on selling fireworks or any type of pyrotechnic to members of the public would negate such a problem. It beggers belief that people consider these items a TOYS, they are not! Any minor does not have the understanding of many aspects of life. They are of course susceptable to any item that is attractive and unable to distinguish if something is safe or not.
It’s irresponsible.
No fireworks should be sold to the general public let alone irresponsible adults giving them to under 18's.
Fireworks should never be in the hands of anyone younger than at least 25
Its an explosive. I'm amased this isn't covered by another law already
We often see teenagers using fireworks in the our local park, sometimes under the influence of drugs and alcohol. They're not being used responsibly - amongst other things, bins and park benches are being exploded and set on fire.
If illegal to purchase when under 18 it should be illegal to circumvent this by buying for an under 18. In my opinion there are many 18yr olds who are reckless and do not think of the consequences of misusing or mishandling fireworks.
I don't think age 18 goes far enough. Plenty of 18/19/20+ year olds still think it's amusing to get drunk and throw fireworks around in the middle of the night 😡 I think it should be age 25, most have learnt to behave a little better by then.
Under 18's are not consistently responsible
it closes an obvious loophole.
Fewer people buying explosives the better. Adults can’t buy booze for kids so why ok for explosives? Re all the recent reports about the brain not being fully formed till 25, is 18 too young to buy explosives?
Fireworks are dangerous & terrifying for animals.
Fireworks are dangerous and must be used responsibly. No child should be allowed to handle them
the onus is already in the law, to prevent such sales to those presently considerd to be less responsible for their actions.
Mike Robertson "No firework of any kind should be sold to under 18s , they are dangerous and can be anti social" I think you will find that is already enshrined in law for fireworks of category 2&3.
I don't think anyone under 18 should be messing about with fireworks
All fireworks should be unavailable to under 18s at all times
No fireworks should be sold to under 18s
It is a bit silly having a law that regulates something, but with a simple process to avoid the law. If the law was made because it deems under 18 not to be responsible enough to have such items, then there shouldn't be a root to bypass that law.
No fireworks to anyone! No one uses them responsibly or with any consideration!
You can join the army at 16 and be taught to fire a gun. But the safe use of fireworks by minors would be against the law.
Probably only CAT F3 should not be given to under 18's.
Defineately agree it should be illegal to under 18
Because it will deprive many many younger people who just wish to have a good bit of fulfilling and innocent fun. Do not let the minority ruin something for the majority, you get some bad seeds everywhere in every walk of life. Letting a few bad seeds ruin everything for everybody else is a really depressing and downright horrible thing to do.
How are you supposed to teach your kids how to use fireworks safely in practice?
At no point should anyone give any child an explosive device. You’d not give them a gun so why allow kids to run about with fireworks that can do as much harm and cause death through deliberate or incompetent misuse.
The law does not go far enough, no fireworks should be sold outwith organised, approved groups
Maybe prevent giving them for use without adult supervision but they should be allowed to be given to under 18s when used with supervision by under 18s, for some families it’s almost a right of passage to be the next to light the fireworks. How else will they learn to do it safely. Sparklers should be a different category
No fireework of any kind should be sold to under 18s , they are dangerous and can be anti social
My dog is terrified of fireworks and becomes desperately ill. In the lead up to Guy Fawkes day fireworks are let off with no warning Public events at advertised times are acceptable but fireworks should be banned to members of the public
No one under 18 should be allowed to handle or be in possession of fireworks
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