Posted on 06/06/2016 2:47:09 PM PDT by BBell
U.S. Navy sailors in Japan can say goodbye to their sake.
Following an alleged drunk driving incident by a 21-year-old Petty Officer 2nd Class Aimee Mejia, the Navy announced Monday that drinking alcohol would be banned for all 19,000 personnel in Japan.
Imbibing will be banned both on and off base, and sailors will no longer be able to freely leave their bases. Leaving base grounds will be allowed only for running necessary errands, or commuting from an off-base home.
"These measures are not taken lightly," said Rear Adm. Matthew Carter. "For decades, we have enjoyed a strong relationship with the people of Japan. It is imperative that each sailor understand how our actions affect that relationship, and the U.S.-Japan alliance as a whole."
Mejia’s vehicle allegedly crossed the center line on a freeway on the island of Okinawa before striking two other vehicles. She was not injured in the crash, but two people in the other cars were.
(Excerpt) Read more at mcclatchydc.com ...
I don’t think they’re going to allow any sailor to go off base unless he or she has a damn good reason.
I can’t see them shutting down the base bars but....
Keep in mind this is only Navy.
The Marine Corps is under the Department of the Navy so I’m sure it applies to them. The article specifically mentions Okinawa and there are not that many Naval personnel on Okinawa. Mostly Marines and Air Force.
Mass punishments were never a thing I enjoyed. One of the many reasons why I got out after my 4.
Marines are Naval Infantry so I’m sure it includes them.
This is going to have the effect of hurting Japanese businesses that service US military personnel. And consider that there isn’t just an alcohol ban, but also revocation of most off base passes.
How long will it take for those businesses to start screaming about their lost revenue?
The Marine Corps still likes liberty cards.
well, there goes the Japan economy. No one to spend like drunken sailors.
Prohibition never works. Imagine Saturday night down at the PO club. Pretty grim.
A big market just opened up in these areas for this new product!
Classic Sodastream gadget can now instantly turn water into beer
UK Daily Star ^ | June 6, 2016 | Dave Snelling
Posted on 6/6/2016, 3:15:21 PM by PJ-Comix
If you love an ice-cold pint of beer all of your dreams may have just come true.
You can now forget heading to the local for an overpriced ale by simply turning your tap water into beer.
The classic Sodastream has just been transformed into a mini brewery thanks to the launch of a new Beer Bar kit.
The Beer Bar enables you to create crafted beer in seconds by simply adding a unique Blondie concentrate to Sparkling Water.
And the best part is, you can brew three litres of lager for around £2.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3437516/posts
Bingo
Why do we have military in Japan?
President Trump can bring our troops home from Japan, Korea and Germany and save a ton of money.
Let these rich Asian countries defend themselves at their cost.
So, 19,000 US military personnel must be perfect in every way, every day, or it will cause serious problems in the relationship with Japan?
Not making light of incidents that injure people, but a policy where any such incident will cause a major problem is totally unrealistic.
Is Japan ready to assume full responsibility for its defense now in view of the continuing behavior of China?
Stuff like this is sensitive in Okinawa.
They were once an independent kingdom, only “recently” were they taken over by Japan.
They’re poorer than almost any prefecture, yet they host over 50% of the American military —they see this as unfair, or at least as a form leverage over the rest of Japan.
They’re not happy about this, but you can REST ASSURED that they’re going to make a really, really big deal about it.
I’d say especially cuz US politics now features a lot of talk about Making Japan Pay, Japan will make very great hay out of this.
Dating reputation ruined last month by that drunk black navy guy (stabbed and strangled Japanese GF).
Driving reputation now ruined by this drunk Mexican.
Thanks!
I learned a lot about Okinawa while I was there and the locals were mostly very friendly.
I was not a base rat. I had a 4 month old daughter when I arrived in 95 and we did not spend much time on base. I would have preferred to stay living out in town but the energy bills were a killer. Neither my daughter or I spent much time on base. Too many cool parks to go to off base. We rarely ate on base and shopped a lot out off base. Christmas at the Okinawa Botanical gardens was great.
And the Okinawa hash house harriers were a blast.
“Japan pays for all the expenses of having troops in Japan. Cost of living adjustments, housing allowances, fuel for vehicles and aircraft, and they do a pretty decent job of maintaining the bases.”
Great, what do we get out of it?
“President Trump can bring our troops home from Japan, Korea and Germany and save a ton of money.
Let these rich Asian countries defend themselves at their cost.”
Agree.
All the troops and equipment in South Korea should be redeployed to the Mexican border.
Keep the illegals and drugs out.
I arrived on Okinawa shortly after those two jarheads and a corpsman kidnapped and raped a 12 year old local girl. Thank God I was a dependent because all that crap the commands were giving to all the innocent jarheads did not apply to me. BTW, my wife was the active duty Marine.
“Not one Yen. “
Someone else on this thread said they pay for everything!
Another thing I remember about Okinawa. Public works was the largest employer on Okinawa and a good portion of that public works money was directly related to the bases.
“Great, what do we get out of it?”
Uh, the end of WWII.
Germany and Japan were highly restricted after WWII regarding military.
The US has been keeping them safe (and the world safe from their aggression as well - What country started WWI?).
We need Japan as an ally and Japan needs US as an ally .
Fair enough?
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