US Sailors in Japan hit with Drinking Ban, leving base

[geronl]

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-sailors-in-japan-banned-from-drinking-alcohol-leaving-base/

Excerpt

U.S. sailors in Japan banned from drinking alcohol, leaving base

The U.S. Navy's 18,600 sailors stationed in Japan are grounded. They're also banned from drinking alcohol. The temporary restrictions come after a sailor was arrested Sunday for drunk-driving.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Aimee Mejia, 21,crashed into two cars after driving the wrong way on a highway. According to police, two people had minor injuries, but Mejia was unharmed. She's assigned to the Kadena base in Okinawa.

"Effective immediately, Sailors are prohibited from drinking alcohol, on and off base," says a Navy statement. "Additionally, all off-base liberty will be curtailed. Sailors who live off-base will be permitted to travel to and from work and engage in official actions such as childcare drop-off and pickup, trips to the grocery store, gas stations or the gym."

The lockdown comes amid high anti-U.S. military sentiment in Japan, after a string of crimes allegedly committed by American servicemen based there.