Effective Monday, in addition to the 11pm-5am curfew for all active duty American servicemen in Japan, alcoholic consumption is prohibited from 10pm to 8am, even in homes. This restriction also applies to those with leave or liberty status.
These new restrictions are in lieu of the recent incidents involving active-duty soldiers and Japanese citizens such as the arrest of two sailors in Okinawa for the alleged rape of a Japanese woman in October and most recently on November 18, the arrest of a sailor who stripped naked and urinated in a Yokohama café. Besides the Thanksgiving week incident, all of the other occasions were after curfew and involved alcohol. More measures are being taken as far as reviewing any sailors who have had any alcohol-related infractions in the past three years which can lead to being restricted to their base and can only leave if given permission. In accordance to the restrictions, sailors must be on-base or in off-base areas for curfew hours. Also, all sailors on leave or in transit must be in a hotel pre-approved by their commanders in charge. Although the initiative for these restrictions were implemented by 7th Fleet commander Vice Adm. Scott Swift, Rear Adm. Dan Cloyd, commander of all Navy forces in Japan, has picked up and imposed the new rules.
Unfortunately, there are still flaws within the plan as possible penalties were not specified. There was also no immediate indication of other service branches who have adopted the plan such as the Marine Corps officials who have not heard of the plan before the Navy announced it. Sailors outside of Japan, such as Guam, and Marines passing through areas are unclear whether the new policy affects them.
[via Stars & Stripes]