Party's Over for the US Secret Service

Being in the US secret service might not be such a wild romp anymore, with tightened restrictions banning service members from drinking shortly before duty, visiting strip clubs, and other on-the-job shenanigans. The ban has been issued two weeks after reports surfaced that military personnel and Secret Service members were drinking heavily and bringing prostitutes back to their hotel rooms while on duty in Colombia. On Friday, the new rules of conduct were issued and became effective immediately, stating: "Foreign nationals, excluding hotel staff and official counterparts, are prohibited in your hotel room. Alcohol may only be consumed in moderate amounts while off-duty on a TDY (temporary duty) assignment, and alcohol use is prohibited within 10 hours of reporting or duty.” (According to the old set of rules, secret service members were allowed to drink up until only four hours before reporting for duty.) In addition, booze is not to be consumed at the hotel where POTUS—or other protected individual—is staying. Secret service agents will also receive an ethics briefing before leaving for their assignments. According to reports, twelve military members and twelve Secret Service agents were involved in the Columbia incident, with eight members already leaving the agency, three being cleared with serious misconduct, and one losing his security clearance.