U.S. Sailors Stick To Cold Beers (Press, 14 October 1985)
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Summary: U.S. Sailors Stick To Cold Beers (Press, 14 October 1985)
On 14 October 1985, concerns surrounding AIDS significantly impacted the morale of 10,000 American sailors visiting Mombasa, Kenya, as reported by NZPA-Reuter. The sailors arrived aboard the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk and ten accompanying vessels for a five-day shore leave. However, unlike past visits, the sailors demonstrated a reluctance to engage with local prostitutes, many of whom had travelled long distances to welcome the American servicemen. Hoteliers in Mombasa noted the disappointment among the women who were prepared to meet the sailors' demands for cash in exchange for companionship. The sailors reportedly expressed a preference for cold beer over sexual encounters, with some describing the situation as “thumbs-down to sex”. This shift in behaviour appeared to be influenced by warnings from their superiors about the risks of contracting AIDS in the region. Sailors were advised to use condoms and to engage in "clean, safe sex" only if necessary. While no cases of AIDS had been reported in Mombasa, there were troubling findings from a medical study in Nairobi, which indicated that 54 per cent of the prostitutes tested had AIDS antibodies. This news likely heightened the sailors' fears. Many of the women in Mombasa, seated despondently at popular venues like the Castle Hotel, were reportedly unaware of AIDS, which threatens the immune system. The change in the sailors' behaviour left many in the sex industry in disbelief, as it was not typical for American servicemen to turn down such offers. However, not all local business owners were concerned. A club proprietor noted that while the sailors were scaling back their sexual activities, they were compensating by spending more on beer, shopping, and visits to local attractions, such as game parks. Overall, the sailors were expected to inject approximately USD 3 million (NZD 5.25 million) into Mombasa's economy during their shore leave, despite the shift in focus from sexual encounters to other forms of entertainment and spending.
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