A blanket ban on the consumption of alcohol at night for all US naval personnel in Japan was imposed on Nov. 26 after a spate of incidents across Japan. The ban is effective 22:00~08:00, even on days-off. The move is a special measure aimed at enforcing more discipline after a series of crimes were committed by U.S. military personnel in Japan even after a nighttime curfew was imposed following an alleged rape case in Okinawa Prefecture last month. However, the Navy did not say how it intends to enforce the new rule, nor what the penalties will be for offenders. According to base officials, the ban has been applied to all of the approximately 3,100 personnel at the Navy’s Sasebo base in Nagasaki Prefecture. A Sasebo base official said the U.S. Navy is making an effort to improve the situation as a series of unacceptable acts have been committed. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun Nov 27, p.1, mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20121127p2g00m0dm027000c.html
