Cuba begins smoking ban

Cuba began an island-wide ban on smoking in public places such as shops, theatres, and office buildings today.

But some Cubans did not seem to know, or care, and continued to light up their black tobacco cigarettes in enclosed areas now designated as non-smoking.

Tolerance for the habit has been slowly waning and even President Fidel Castro gave up smoking cigars years ago.

Still, cigar exports continue to play a key economic role, generating more than €75m annually.

Castro once joked about giving away boxes of cigars. “But the best thing to do is give them to your enemy,” he said.