Sailors in Japan will again be allowed to drink at off-base bars and restaurants until midnight again, per new rules released Sunday by Naval Forces Japan.
Sailors can drink at private their residences and liberty buddies are mandatory for E-5 and below intending to drink on or off-base, Naval Forces Japan said in a statement about the latest ease of liberty rules. Troops based in Okinawa must follow liberty and alcohol rules set by the Okinawa Area Coordinator.
“We expect individual commanding officers to aggressively and proactively identify Sailors who lack the maturity to go on liberty and address problems before they occur,” said Rear Adm. Matthew Carter, the head of Naval Forces Japan, in a statement.
The Navy banned drinking outright and imposed strict limits on off-base activities a month ago after a second class petty officer drove the wrong way on an Okinawa freeway and smashed head on into two vehicles; the petty officer was arrested on suspicion of driving drunk.
Tensions had already been high on Okinawa after the arrest of a U.S. military contractor on suspicion of raping and killing a woman.
