US Navy Bans Sailors in Japan from Drinking at Night
Published at(TOKYO) — The U.S. Navy is cracking down on sailors in Japan following a string of arrests involving military personnel.
Sailors will now be banned from drinking alcohol between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., even if they are in their homes, regardless of leave or liberty status.
The strict rule comes just weeks after U.S. forces in Japan enforced a curfew for all military personnel based there. That was a direct response to allegations that two American sailors raped a young local woman in Okinawa last month.
A handful of other arrests have followed since. In the most recent case, a sailor was caught urinating and stripping naked at a café.
About 53,000 troops are stationed in Japan, but the Japanese have become increasingly wary of the large military presence there.
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio