In Ireland the sale of fireworks is strictly limited - so the main way to see fireworks is to go to an official organised display. These are usually great fun, and really help to foster a community spirit.

It always struck me as very strange in England that you could go into a shop and buy what are essentially 'explosives', without a licence, and without any training on how to use them safely.

Personally, I really like firework displays - they are something to look forward to in the dreary dark nights of Oct/November - and so it would be a shame to ban fireworks totally, but I agree with some of the posters that it may be preferable to leave the firework displays to the 'professionals'. Or perhaps at least create a licensing system, so that only those who've been safety trained are allowed to buy them for personal use.

Otherwise, since most teenagers (and many grown adults...) will naturally tend towards pyromania and/or thrillseeking, they are bound to cause danger to themselves and to others when they hold of some fireworks. Particularly since so often fireworks+alcohol seem to go hand in hand!