The Stars and Stripes did a revealing article last year dealing with U.S. Military’s efforts to curtail, what they call an “entrenched culture of alcohol use” among U.S. service members serving in Japan.
It said that U.S. commanders in Japan have been literally “scrambling” to curtail alcohol-fueled military misconduct, since the rape in October of an Okinawa woman by two drunken sailors serving in the U.S. Navy.
See video: U.S. Servicemen Arrested for Rape in Okinawa http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJh_UQc3bnI ).
At the same time the article exposes the scandal of how the U.S. Department of Defense tries to “keep alcohol plentiful and cheap on Asian bases.”
The article noted, that a shoppette at Yokota Air Base was recently selling “a 30-pack of Miller Lite beer for $12.99.” By comparison, a six-pack of Budweiser would have cost the equivalent of about “$15 at a nearby off-base Japanese supermarket.”
“Shoppettes also stock the super-cheap Military Special brand of spirits. A 1-liter bottle of Military Special tequila costs about $10 at Yokota’s shops. Into this boozy stew arrives a certain mix of young soldiers, airmen, Marines and sailors” (source: Military brass dealing with an entrenched culture of alcohol use in Asia http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/bad-behavior-in-the-pacific/military-brass-dealing-with-an-entrenched-culture-of-alcohol-use-in-asia-1.200199 ).
Alcohol abuse causes all kinds of problems in the military among members, including fights and arguments among the troops (see video: Drunk Marines and Navy menhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA-yMTDhOg8 ).
Drinking happens on military property all the time, not just in Japan.
See drunk soldier passed out in the barracks with beer bottles all over the place (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF7daSl-kVc ).
Alcohol cause untold loss in productivity and job preformance among many service members who struggle with alcohol abuse.
See Navy sailor still drunk and late for a muster (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MalmbVZ8Es ).