A ban against consuming alcohol off-base in Japan has been lifted. The ban was put in place following a series of alcohol-related incidents involving US service members and civilian employees.
The relaxation of the booze ban comes with stipulations: Such consumption must end by 10 p.m.; and all personnel in pay grade E-5 or below must be accompanied by “liberty buddies.”
Japanese police arrested a sailor in March, charging him with suspected rape. In May, a former Marine who worked as a civilian employee at Kadena Air Base was charged with killing a Japanese woman. Both incidents, as well as fears about the planned expansion of Futenma Marine Corps Air Station, spurred protests by Okinawan citizens.
Rear Adm. Matthew Carter, commander of the 7th Fleet and U.S. Naval Forces Japan, rescinded the restriction June 28. Carter had imposed the ban June 6.
