Sale of alcohol ceases on Yokosuka

[unhappycamper]

All alcohol was pulled from store shelves Wednesday to show "heightened sensitivity" after the March 19 murder of a taxi driver in Yokosuka.


Sale of alcohol ceases on Yokosuka
By Allison Batdorff, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Friday, April, 4, 2008

YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — Alcohol sales at Yokosuka Naval Base halted Wednesday, with employees pulling every bottle, case and six-pack off store shelves.

Signs went up at on-base bars telling customers alcohol was not being served. A flurry of phone calls and e-mails went out telling Yokosuka-based personnel to limit their movements between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The restrictions came as part of period of “heightened sensitivity” to “mourn the March 19 murder” of a taxi driver in Yokosuka, mandated jointly by Commander U.S. Naval Forces Japan and 7th Fleet.

It impacts all Status of Forces Agreement personnel attached to Yokosuka Naval Base and in the associated housing areas of Ikego and Negishi, CNFJ spokesman Cmdr. David Waterman said Wednesday evening. They will be in effect from Wednesday to Monday, when they will be “reviewed,” he said.

“The goal of this action is to review plans and policies on violence prevention and to respectfully mourn the tragic loss of Mr. Takahashi,” CNFJ commanding officer Rear Adm. James Kelly was quoted as saying in a news release.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=53807