US expands alcohol restrictions for troops in Japan

The U.S. is further cracking down on alcohol consumption by American troops in Japan, following a prohibition enacted this month in Okinawa.

This last week, tens of thousands of troops from the U.S., Japan and other nations launched the latest edition of the biennial Keen Sword exercise. The large-scale drills involve more than 50,000 participating troops and focus on repairing bases and infrastructure, maritime combat operations and air defense. Personnel taking part in the exercise are barred from consuming alcohol, on or off base, through the duration of the drills.

Stars & Stripes first reported on the consumption ban for Keen Sword, citing a notice shared by Japan’s North Kanto Defense Bureau, part of the Ministry of Defense. A spokesperson for U.S. Forces Japan confirmed the ban, saying that alongside the prohibition on drinking, troops participating in Keen Sword are subject to curfew from midnight to 5 a.m. However, there are no restrictions on buying alcohol.

The Keen Sword restrictions are the latest in a series of restrictions on American troops’ drinking and off-base activities in the last three weeks, following the detention of a Marine in Okinawa for the murder of a local woman. Earlier this month, Lance Cpl. Devin Ballard was arrested in Naha City for allegedly killing a Japanese woman. Ballard has denied the allegations. The incident drew high-level criticism from the Japanese government and III Marine Expeditionary Force enacted a 48-hour alcohol ban and a month-long curfew in the wake of the death.

On Oct. 13, Japan’s foreign minister said the two countries were looking at stronger restrictions, after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said she would press for actions “to ensure that [such cases do not] happen again.”

The prohibition on drinking during Keen Sword also comes as leadership at Kadena Air Base further barred junior enlisted personnel assigned to the base on Okinawa from consuming or possessing alcohol. The memo, signed by Brig. Gen. John Gallemore, commander of the Air Force’s 18th Wing, went into effect on Oct. 22 and lasts through Nov .8. Gallemore’s order bans alcohol consumption for troops in ranks E-1 through E-4. Those service members also have off base liberties cut off from 10 p.m-5 a.m. local time. In addition, possession of alcohol in on-base dormitories is banned. Violations, the memo notes, are punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Signs posted at base exchanges note that “Alcohol sales will cease for All Active Duty E-4 and below starting 22 October 2026 until further notice,” according to images shared on the popular amn/nco/snco Facebook page.

The military has issued several temporary bans on drinking at Kadena Air Base or Okinawa as a whole over the last decade, following arrests of troops or allegations of misconduct.

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