US Navy Bans Sailors in Japan from Drinking at Night - East Idaho News
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US Navy Bans Sailors in Japan from Drinking at Night

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GETTY W 111912 JapanFlag?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1354020593418Stockbyte/Thinkstock(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

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