Pewter Mugs: Safe For Beer Drinking?

Pewter mugs have been used for drinking beer for centuries, but is it safe? Modern pewter is considered safe for drinking, but older pewter mugs may contain lead, which can leach into the beverage and pose health risks. So, how can you tell if your pewter mug is safe to drink from? Old pewter mugs often have stamps or marks indicating their place and date of manufacture, and if they were made outside the US or England after 1700, they likely contain lead. Modern pewter is primarily made of tin, copper, and antimony, and is generally safe for drinking, although some people notice a slight tang or metallic taste when drinking from pewter mugs, which can enhance or detract from the taste of the beer.

Modern pewter is lead-free

The shift towards lead-free pewter is a recent one. Lead was removed from the composition of pewter in 1974, and this was reinforced by the European directive in 1994. This change was made due to the understanding of the harmful effects of heavy metals like lead on the human body. Today, pewter is used mainly for decorative and specialty items, such as collectibles, jewellery, and replicas.

While modern pewter is safe to drink from, some people notice a slight tang or metallic taste when drinking from pewter mugs. This can either enhance or detract from the taste of the beverage, depending on the style of beer. For example, some people find that hefeweizen benefits from the slight acidic tinge, while some lagers are undrinkable from it. Additionally, older pewter with higher lead content can cause a darker silver-grey oxidation and faster tarnishing.

It is important to note that while modern pewter is lead-free, not all pewter items are created equal. Older pewter items may still contain lead, and it is essential to use the right cleaning methods to maintain the quality of your pewter items.

Old pewter may contain lead

Old pewter is a metal alloy made up of about 90% tin, which gives it a silvery sheen, and lead, which adds weight and strength. Lead is now known to be toxic, with no safe level of exposure, and was used in pewter as a low-cost bulking agent and to improve durability. Liquids filling a pewter mug made with lead will absorb the lead and put you at risk of lead poisoning.

Pewter made in the United States and England after the late 1700s is lead-free. To identify old pewter, check the bottoms of mugs to see if they were stamped by the maker. Stamps tend to include the date and location of creation. If there is a stamp and the item was not made in the United States or England after 1700, assume it was made with lead.

If you have a beer mug made with old pewter that contains lead, do not drink from it and use it for ornamental purposes instead.

Pewter can give beer a metallic taste

Pewter is a metal alloy, primarily made of tin. While modern pewter is lead-free, older pewter contains lead. Drinking from pewter made with lead puts you at risk of lead poisoning as the liquid filling the mug absorbs the lead and gets into your system.

Even if your pewter mug is new and lead-free, the metal can still give your beer a slight tang or a metallic taste. This is because the beer reacts with the metal, producing hydrogen gas and dissolved metal salts. The specific metal that reacts will depend on the pewter. The tang is more noticeable on your lips and the tip of your tongue. Depending on the style of beer, this can either enhance or detract from the taste. For example, some people find that hefeweizen benefits from the slight acidic tinge, while some lagers are undrinkable from it.

There are ways to reduce the metallic taste. One way is to coat the inside of the vessel with beeswax, which can then be washed by hand with hot tap water and soap. However, this method will impart a slight honey taste to everything you drink out of the vessel. Another way is to simply use the mug a few times, after which the metallic taste will start to lessen.

Pewter was historically used for drinking vessels

Pewter has been used as a material for drinking vessels for centuries. The earliest known example of a tankard, a drinking vessel with a handle and a hinged lid, dates back to the Iron Age. In the Roman era, drinking vessels were also made from pewter.

The use of pewter for drinking vessels became more common in the 17th century, with the emergence of straight-sided tankards with flat lids. These "flat lid tankards" featured decorative thumbpieces that were pressed to raise the lid. In the 18th century, the dome lid was introduced, and tankards with tulip-shaped or "U"-shaped bodies became popular. During this period, two-handled cups, small single-handled cups, beakers, goblets, and wine cups were also in use.

By the 19th century, the "pear", "belly", or "bulbous" shaped mug was the most popular form of drinking vessel, with smaller capacities ranging from half a gill to a quart. Glass-bottomed mugs and mugs with thickened lips or rims, made from materials such as brass, pewter, or copper, also emerged during this time.

The use of pewter for drinking vessels declined with the advent of ceramics and pottery, as well as the discovery that lead, a common component of pewter, was poisonous. Today, modern pewter alloys are lead-free, but some people still enjoy drinking from pewter mugs, especially for traditional and darker beers.

Modern pewter is made from tin, copper, and antimony

Modern pewter is a malleable metal alloy that is made from a combination of tin, copper, and antimony. It typically consists of 85–99% tin, 5–10% antimony, and 2% copper, with some formulations also containing bismuth or silver. The specific composition can vary, with some pewters containing up to 97.5% tin and as little as 1% copper and 1.5% antimony.

The inclusion of tin, copper, and antimony in modern pewter serves several purposes. Tin is the primary constituent of pewter and gives the alloy its malleability and softness. Copper and antimony act as hardening agents, improving the strength and durability of the pewter. This combination of metals results in a pewter alloy that is suitable for a variety of applications, including decorative objects, tableware, and jewellery.

The composition of modern pewter is notably different from that of traditional pewter, which often contained lead. The inclusion of lead in older pewter items is a health concern, as lead is a toxic heavy metal that can leach into food and beverages. However, modern pewter is typically lead-free, making it safe for use in items that come into contact with the human body, such as cups and plates.

Frequently asked questions