The Youngstown Police Department has been assigning patrols to make sure that downtown visitors obey the rules for the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area.

An officer assigned to the DORA patrol cited three people this week for open container violations.

On Monday, police cited a man who was walking on West Federal Street near Hazel Avenue with an open bottle of Fireball liquor. According to the police report, the man then “chugged” the liquor and threw out the empty container.

Later that day during a DORA check on West Commerce Street near Phelps Street, police say a man who was yelling about “AK-47s” had an open 25-ounce can of King Cobra malt liquor. He told officers he believed he could drink alcohol anywhere downtown at any time. The man was cited for having an open container and the beer was disposed of.

Late Tuesday morning, police patrolling downtown due to complaints of open alcohol consumption saw a man sitting on a bench the WRTA station on Federal St. with a glass bottle of Smirnoff Screwdriver wrapped in a plastic bag.

Approximately a quarter of the bottle was missing, according to the police report.

Police say the suspect became upset and walked away before the officer could fully explain his court date and DORA rules.

The Youngstown DORA, created late last year, allows people 21 and older to purchase alcoholic beverages from participating businesses and drink them within designated boundaries during specific hours: 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, and noon to 11 p.m. on Saturdays.

Only alcoholic beverages purchased within DORA and served in designated DORA cups with wristbands are permitted. DORA beverages are prohibited outside of the DORA boundaries and during non DORA hours.

All three individuals were given dates to appear in Youngstown Municipal Court.