But firecrackers are unpopular

Majority of Austrians enjoy fireworks

For the majority of Austrians, fireworks are part of New Year's Eve. However, only a few like firecrackers.

(Bild: APA/HANS PUNZ)

The majority of Austrians (40 percent) like fireworks at midnight on New Year's Eve and enjoy watching them. Around a third like fireworks, but find the firecrackers terrible. 

And 17 percent feel annoyed by the noise, according to a survey of 1,000 people commissioned by Allianz and published on Sunday. Multiple answers were possible for all questions.

Surprisingly, only nine percent like to set off fireworks themselves - these are mainly men and the 14 to 19 age group. Around a quarter think that only professional pyrotechnicians should be allowed to do this.

Fireworks also harbor dangers
And 15 percent of respondents claim that they have been injured by fireworks - either physically or in the form of property damage. 3.6 percent had suffered minor injuries, while three percent had suffered injuries to a person from the same household. Just as many have suffered damage to property, two percent have had their car damaged and two percent have had their house or apartment damaged.

Conversely, seven percent have injured themselves or someone else or demolished something.

Yes to a ban out of consideration for animals
The risk of injury is a reason for 18% to advocate a general ban on fireworks. 31 percent would abolish it out of consideration for domestic and wild animals, a quarter because of the environmental impact and 18 percent because of the noise.

Older people (aged 50 and over) are particularly opposed to rockets and firecrackers.