According to local lore, during the 1970s, Cuban state cafeterias were reportedly subject to a strange regulation specifying the size of coffee cups served to patrons. The rule supposedly required that each cup must have a circumference of no less than 22 centimeters. The official rationale behind this oddly specific measurement was to promote social interaction among citizens by encouraging longer coffee breaks and larger cups to be shared or discussed collectively. While this guideline is not known to appear in any formal legal code, many Cubans recall anecdotes of cafeteria workers measuring cups and even rejecting smaller ones. The idea fits into a broader pattern of quirky bureaucratic rules that emerged during that era, often emphasizing social cohesion through unusual means. However, no definitive proof or official documentation has surfaced to verify the existence of this rule, and it remains a fascinating example of the kind of urban myth that sometimes circulates in Cuba. Whether fact or folklore, it highlights how bureaucratic language can sometimes take unexpectedly specific and amusing turns.
Source / verification note
Based on reported local anecdotes and cultural stories; no official Cuban government document has been located confirming this rule.