Sainsbury’s have banned fireworks from their stores ahead of Bonfire night

Sainsbury's
(Image credit: SOPA Images)

Bonfire Night can be a stressful time for some families, especially if you’ve got animals or small children. Now Sainsbury’s have banned them from all of their stores.

The supermarket has confirmed that they will no longer be selling the products at any of their 2,300 stores across the country.

Sainsbury’s responded to a tweet from Sally Woolf, who had praised her local supermarket for not selling the fireworks.

Sally wrote, ‘Have to say well done & thank you. Been informed local branch #Stanmore won’t be selling fireworks this year due 2 the distress it causes our pets & wildlife.

She added, ‘Any other stores doing this? Can’t thank you enough as my dog is beside herself with fear at these times. 👏🏻👏🏻’

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Confirming the news, a spokesperson from Sainsbury’s replied, ‘Hey Sally, thanks! We won't be selling fireworks in any of our stores this year. Hope this helps!’

UK law states that fireworks must not be set off between 11pm and 7am, except on special occasions like Bonfire Night or New Year’s Eve.

READ MORE: Firework safety tips to help you and your family stay safe on Bonfire Night

But unfortunately, many feel that the use of fireworks can be distressing for elderly people, young children and animals, especially when they go on late into the night on special occasions.

It looks like Sainsbury’s is the first supermarket to completely ban fireworks, but Sally is now calling for others to do the same.

In her tweet, she wrote, ‘Please note #asda #morrisons #Tesco #waitrose Sainsburys aren’t selling fireworks in any stores this year as it causes so much stress in pets, wildlife & kids. Please think about doing the same. #Diwali2019 doesn’t have 2b celebrate with fireworks, it’s a festival of light!’

Many agreed with Sally, with one user saying, ‘Brilliant news should be banned except proper organised displays.’

Dogs Trust issued a statement surrounding the decision, with a spokesperson saying, “Although they can look beautiful, fireworks can be very distressing for dogs when let off unexpectedly, and because they are so easily accessible all year-round, dog owners are on tenterhooks as to when their beloved pooch will next be frightened.

“A survey found over half of the British public think fireworks should be limited to public displays only."

Sainsbury’s are still selling products for various occasions, with a spokesperson adding, “Fireworks are no longer available in our stores but customers can continue to choose from a range of seasonal products, such as glow sticks and light up spinning wands.”

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Lucy Buglass
Digital Writer

Lucy Buglass is a Digital Writer for What's on TV, Goodto.com, and Woman&Home. After finishing her degree in Film Studies at Oxford Brookes University she moved to London to begin her career. She's passionate about entertainment and spends most of her free time watching Netflix series, BBC dramas, or going to the cinema to catch the latest film releases.