Youngstown, OH Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)

Section 529.07 layers two prohibitions. Subsections (a) and (b) bar anyone from possessing an opened bottle of intoxicating liquor, beer or wine, or consuming, selling or giving it away, upon or within any City-owned or maintained park or park premises. Subsection (c) then bars possessing an open container of intoxicating liquor or beer in any public place citywide. The ordinance defines public place broadly in subsection (d)(2): every way or parking area used by the public, any public park, playground, school, stadium or attached grounds, any mall, plaza, arena or shopping center, any public street, highway, alley, freeway, thruway or sidewalk, and any amusement park or theatre and its grounds.

An open container is defined as any open can, bottle, glass, flask, canteen or other unsealed container. Subsection (e) carves out limited exceptions: liquor lawfully consumed on the premises of an A-1A, A-2, D-2, D-3, D-3A, D-4, D-5 or D-5A permit holder, functions held by associations of ten or more persons or employers of ten or more under an F permit, and, since Ordinance 24-435 (passed October 16, 2024), possession within an outdoor refreshment area created under Ohio R.C. 4301.82 when the alcohol was bought from a qualifying permit holder inside that area. The refreshment-area exception does not cover alcohol brought in from elsewhere or possession inside a vehicle in the refreshment area.