Nope, you are correct. You can walk around with any kind of alchohol container except glass bottles. Most of the places serve the beer in draft cups anyways. Be sure to try the hurricanes and hand granades, bourbon st. favorites. Bars usually close around 4am, but since you'll be there for new years, it'll be PACKED, so they'll reopen a couple hours later for the daytime crowd. There are areas of the street to stay away from, you'll know it. Two pointers, do NOT wear to many Mardi Gras beads around your neck, you're sure to get mugged. Mardi Gras beads when it's not mardi gras usually means TOURISTS, and where's there's tourists, there's MONEY! Another pointer is, carry all your money, wallet, credit cards, ect in your front pockets, preferrably with a zipper, and when squeezing your way through the crowds, keep one hand over your pocket.
Also, when walking through, keep your camera ready, because you'll see some ( o )( o )!!