The most obvious use of a condom is to prevent pregnancy or transmission of STDs during sexual intercourse unless you are in Cuba! In the communist-run island of Cuba, the latex can fit over anything else along with a penis. Be it making wine or tying hair. No, we are not exaggerating, condoms really are put to multipurpose use in Cuba. The economy is such that there is an extreme shortage of some basic goods. Necessity is the mother of all invention and Cubans have proved true to the phrase. Venezuela’s Hyperinflation: Box of Condoms Costs One Week’s Salary. 

In its centralized and very dysfunctional economy, there is no shortage of condoms, which are in fact available at a cheap price. Carribean countries have been focussing on sexual health so there are government subsidies. A box of condoms costs just 1 Cuban peso, no wonder they are used in most unlikely of places we would have ever thought. ‘Don’t Wash or Reuse Condoms’ US Public Health Institute CDC Urges People: 5 Other Things You Should Never Do To Condoms. 

A stylist uses them as hairbands, fishermen use them as baits. Condoms are filled with air and used as balloons in birthday parties or concerts even. Winemakers use condoms in the fermentation process! Orestes Estevez who owns a makeshift winery in Havana, found a good use of condoms in his business. He covers the bottles of grape juice with condoms and when the fermentation gases are released, the rubbers inflate. When the condom falls out, he knows the fermentation is complete! Brilliant, right? Estevez has been selling these wines in his garage.

The trade sanctions and Soviet-style of the economy is crippling and thus shops turn empty with lack of supplies. Imports are also sold at a high rate, the black market is also expensive. So some of the basic stuff becomes unaffordable. Meanwhile, as condom comes cheap and as long as it works as an alternative, why not?

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 06, 2018 11:22 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).