Australian admiral calls time on drunken sailors

SYDNEY - Australian navy chief Vice-Admiral Russ Crane on Thursday demanded an end to the service's booze culture, warning of mandatory breath-tests and curfews on shore leave.

The tough message, in a video address shown across the navy, followed a 400-page report released this year on sordid behavior involving HMAS Success in 2009.

The report examined allegations of a "predatory culture" and drunken misconduct on the ship, with sailors accused of maintaining a list known as "The Ledger" which put dollar values on sexual conquests with female colleagues.