US prohibits military personnel in Japan from consuming alcohol

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.

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, according to media sources.

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

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.