Enthusiasm for fireworks waning: report

Fewer and fewer people are lighting fireworks around the turning of the year. This year only about 21 percent of Dutch people bought fireworks, in 2009 in was 29 percent. This is according to a survey by Q&A Research & Consultancy. According to the researchers, there is less and less desire among consumers to light fireworks. They prefer to spend their money on something else. About a quarter (26 percent) of Dutch people find fireworks too dangerous. Almost half of Dutch people indicate that they are now more afraid of fireworks than before. Slightly more than half of Dutch people are now for a fireworks ban. Last year it was only 45 percent. Almost two thirds of respondents welcome the alternative that municipalities hold a fireworks show on their account. The study also shows that 52 percent of fireworks enthusiasts usually buy their fireworks from a fireworks specialist, instead of in a garden center or hardware store. 11 percent of consumers buy fireworks over the internet. 11 percent of respondents indicated that they sometimes buy illegal fireworks. Only 12 percent of respondents said that they trust illegal fireworks. The fireworks industry estimates that about 65 million euros of fireworks will be launched this year.