Poll finds strong support for Swiss fireworks ban
Friday 23rd October 2026 on 07:15 in
Switzerland
Nearly seven in 10 Swiss voters support an initiative to ban loud private fireworks, according to an SRG poll reported by SRF. The measure is set for a national vote on November 29.
The poll, conducted by research institute GFS Bern, found that 69 percent would vote for the initiative and 29 percent against it. The figures reflect how respondents said they would have voted on October 11. The campaign has yet to begin in earnest, but the pollsters say opinion is already moderately to strongly formed.
The initiative calls for a general ban on loud fireworks in Switzerland. Fireworks that do not make noise would remain permitted. Large professional displays, including those for the August 1 national holiday or other public festivals, could still take place with cantonal approval. Individuals would not be allowed to set off loud fireworks at those events.
Support is higher among women, at 76 percent, than men, at 60 percent. Two arguments for the initiative tested in the poll each won the support of 85 percent of respondents: that fireworks harm the environment through noise, waste and pollutants, and that they cause stress and fear in animals and can trigger dangerous attempts to flee.
At the same time, 61 percent agreed that the initiative could severely restrict the fireworks industry and cause losses that threaten businesses. Another 52 percent considered a constitutional ban on the sale and use of loud fireworks excessive.
GFS Bern political scientist Lukas Golder said environmental and animal-protection initiatives have traditionally had good prospects in Swiss votes. He described the current opposition campaign as not very visible and said a rejection of the initiative would surprise him.
The survey was conducted for SRG SSR from October 5 to 18, with October 11 as the midpoint. A total of 14,874 eligible voters were included in the analysis. The reported margin of error is plus or minus 2.8 percentage points. The telephone portion interviewed 506 eligible voters living in Switzerland, using landlines and mobile phones.