Sainsbury’s stops selling fireworks following fears for pets
Sainsbury’s has become the UK’s first big supermarket to stop selling fireworks across all its stores.
The move followed a review of all of the supermarket’s products, Sainsbury’s said.
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It also comes after a petition to ban the public sale of fireworks, which attracted more than 300,000 signatures last year.
Pet owners have backed the change, with many taking to Twitter to praise the “bold move” by the company, saying their pets are “petrified” by the explosions that mark 5 November.
Now customers say that other big supermarkets need to “follow suit”.
Tesco and Asda will continue to sell fireworks, according to the BBC.
People seeking to ban fireworks from sale in supermarkets have complained they can cause distress to pets and wildlife and damage buildings.
A healthcare professional reacted on Twitter by saying: “A huge thank you and praise to Sainsbury’s for the decision to not sell fireworks this year. It is not just the animals who suffer but anyone who is unwell or has a condition like autism.”
However the supermarket has declined to go into detail about the reasons behind its decision to stop selling fireworks.
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A Sainsburys spokesperson said: “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.”
Around 4,400 injuries occurred due to fireworks in 2017, according to statistics from NHS Digital.