defestival1-9, Exercise 2: The fireworks debate

Model answer (check the current rules and figures):

Case for restricting or banning private fireworks: fireworks cause injuries each year, including to hands, eyes and bystanders, and put pressure on hospitals and emergency services in the first hours of the year. They release fine dust and other pollution, they distress animals, and the waste has to be cleared up. Some police and fire-service representatives and medical groups support a ban or limits.

Case for keeping them: fireworks at midnight are a long-standing custom that many people enjoy, and the sale in the last days of the year supports a manufacturing and retail trade. Supporters argue that a ban would penalise the careful majority for the behaviour of a few, and would be hard to enforce. Some propose public displays or limited zones as a compromise.

Evidence needed: figures on injuries and emergency calls; measurements of air quality in the hours after midnight; evidence on how local bans have worked in practice; and surveys of public opinion. Each side should show where its numbers come from, as industry and campaign groups both have an interest.