From one site about a previous _Boston_ First Night:
"While First Night was founded in 1976 as an alternative way to commemorate a holiday known for raucous partying, the celebration has grown to be an annual tradition in the Hub and the largest New Year's Eve arts celebration in North America."
Salt Lake City has one, and has for several years. I even attended ONCE.
I am a certified alcohologist but I never go out on New Years. I leave it to the ametuers.
Allot of people drinking and partying on New Years only do that two or three times a year and don't have a high tolerance for it. Not that that is a bad thing, I just prefer the company of more seasoned drunks.