Drinking ban for U.S. soldiers in Okinawa

• Tweet

OKINAWA, Japan, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- The U.S. military has imposed an off-base ban on alcohol consumption for soldiers, sailors and Marines serving at Japan's Okinawa facility.

U.S. military troops have been accused in recent weeks of numerous crimes in the city -- including gang-rape, drunk driving, trespassing, vandalism and bodily injury, the Stars and Stripes newspaper reported.

The Third Marine Expeditionary Force announced in a release Saturday drinking off-base is banned and on-base alcohol sales will cease at 10 p.m.

"Military drivers with a blood alcohol content over 0.03 percent will not be allowed to leave base, and passengers and pedestrians also may be tested for intoxication and sent home if over the limit," the military newspaper said.

Japan's Kyodo news agency reported a U.S. Marine was arrested on drunk driving charges Friday night after allegedly smashing his vehicle into three cars and injuring two people.