Japan's JR East luxury sleeper train staff drank on-duty; investigation finds employees habitually consumed alcoholic beverages during breaks for years

JR East’s Train Suite Shiki-shima sleeper train rolls along beside a row of cherry trees In Shibata, Miyagi Prefecture, on April 10. - Photo: The Yomiuri Shimbun file

TOKYO: Six employees responsible for in-car service on the Train Suite Shiki-shima luxury sleeper train frequently drank alcohol during work hours beyond the scope of their duties for several years, a tour company belonging to the JR East group announced Wednesday (Aug 13).

According to the tour company, JR East View Tourism and Sales Co., the employees were permitted to taste alcoholic beverages as wine and champagne provided to passengers for quality assurance purposes.