The US military has imposed a new ban on its service members in Japan that prohibits them from purchasing or consuming alcohol, on or off base.

The ban has been imposed after a US service member was involved in an accident that killed a Japanese man on Sunday.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

Alcohol may have been the cause of the accident, according to US Forces, Japan.

US Marine Nicholas James-McLean was driving the military vehicle that hit a small truck in Naha.

“The Okinawa prefectural police found that the marine consumed three times more alcohol than the legal blood-alcohol limit set by Japan.”

The Okinawa prefectural police found that the marine consumed three times more alcohol than the legal blood-alcohol limit set by Japan, according to media sources.

The marine was arrested by the Japanese police after the crash.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

All US service members in Okinawa have also been restricted to their bases and residences.

In addition, the military will conduct mandatory training for all its service members and US government civilians across Japan to address responsible alcohol use, risk management and acceptable behaviour.

The US currently deploys a majority of soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and civilians across Japan.

The Okinawa Prefecture Police has previously arrested two US military personnel on allegations of robbery, two on allegations of rape and six on allegations of violent offences, CNN reported citing the police website.

Army Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Army Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact across the defence sector.

Excellence in Action
Virtualitics has clinched both the Innovation and Business Expansion awards for its Integrated Readiness Optimization (IRO) AI suite, transforming maintenance, sustainment and operational decision-making across the US DoD. Discover how explainable AI and predictive insights are redefining mission readiness, risk management and joint-force efficiency.

Discover the Impact