Sailors disembark the USS George Washington after arriving at the aircraft carrier's new homeport, Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, Nov. 22, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)
YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — Sailors assigned to the USS George Washington will be hard-pressed to slake their thirst following new liberty restrictions imposed on the aircraft carrier’s crew of 3,000.
Sailors are, for the time being, prohibited from consuming any alcoholic beverages on or off base, ship spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Mark Langford said by phone Tuesday.
Additionally, 18- and 19-year-old sailors assigned to the ship are prohibited from taking any overnight liberty, he said.
The restrictions, which went into effect Nov. 26, four days after the George Washington arrived at its new homeport, are not intended to be permanent or long-term, Langford said.
An end date for the “precautionary restrictions” has not been set, but the carrier’s command will “continue to monitor activities in town and communicate any changes to the policy,” he said in a Monday email.
All U.S. sailors in Japan must already adhere to a midnight-to-5 a.m. ban on drinking in public establishments off base, according to an Oct. 1 order by Rear Adm. Ian Johnson, commander of Navy Region Japan. They may not even be in those places during those hours.
Johnson’s order extended by one hour a 1 a.m.-to 5-a.m. drinking ban issued days earlier by U.S. Forces Japan’s former commander, Air Force Lt. Gen. Ricky Rupp. That order followed in the wake of two unrelated cases of sexual assault and attempted sexual assault against an airman and Marine that roiled Okinawa this summer.
The additional restrictions on the George Washington’s crew were imposed “to meet mission requirements and ensure our team remains strong and fully committed” to the Navy’s obligations in the region, Langford said.
The weekend of the carrier’s arrival saw a sharp uptick in activity in Yokosuka’s Honcho district. Commonly referred to as “The Honch” by American sailors, the nightlife area is just across the street from the base’s main gate and regularly draws large weekend crowds to its numerous bars.
A Yokosuka Police Department spokesman said “alcohol-related troubles” occurred that weekend, but he did not elaborate further.
Navy Security Forces responded to the trouble and is sharing information with Yokosuka police, the spokesman said.
Some government officials in Japan are required to speak with the media only on condition of anonymity.
