question

[Francisco Paula]

At work we are having a silent auction and i'm trying for a set of brass cups. they should go good with my pirate outfit but i do need to clean the inside but is there something i should treat the inside with so that i can drink from them.

[Francisco Paula]

well won the mugs now need to clean them out and see if they will hold water and see what i can do about being able to drink out of. Oh will get a picture up so you all can see them

[Radu the Gypsy]

I believe brass is safe to drink alcoholic and acidic beverages from, unlike pewter.  However, if you are worried about it, a light resin treatment to the inside of the cup should make it safe.  or a thin coat of beeswax. 

[Demetrius]

Try some brass wax, or brass bees-wax. Take a hot bath, wrap a hot towel around your head... try winning mugs you can drink out of... try some brass cleaner that says on the side- "May be used to clean cups used for drinking... try drinking like a pirate- like you did at the Buccaneer Bash... Be obsequious... deliver thee from evil... ha ha ha ha... I just drank out of my freshly cleaned brass mugs and I feel fine... The Beatles... ooh, look... Madonna!!   

[Adriana Rose]

Thank you now that song is stuck in my head!

[Demetrius]

Thank you now that song is stuck in my head!

Try posting it in mundane topics... like a cure for the hiccups... or just drink out of one of those cups!

What do you do with a drunken sailor
what do you do with a drunken sailor
what do you do with a drunken sailor
er lie in the mornin'...

[Norfolk]

"What do you do with a drunken sailor?"

Silly pirate!  Why, make him the captain of an exxon tanker, of course!

[Francisco Paula]

Make him CEO of AIG

[Lord Figaro]

Either way that ship is gonna sink.

[The Professor]

Put that swab on Antabuse!
Put that swab on Antabuse!
Put that swab on Antabuse!
He'll be sick in the morning!

Best!

[Demetrius]

Hey ho and up it's risin'
Hey ho and up it's risin'
Hey ho and up it's risin'
antabuse in the mournin'

[Norfolk]

Okay, Sir Garath.  I have delayed responding to your serious question with a serious answer, hoping a correct one would come from elsewhere.  Alas, it appears that is not to be.  So, here is the answer to your question regarding the safety of brass drinking vessels: 

Although brass is usually defined as an alloy of copper and zinc, neither of which is terribly toxic to humans, actual production brass may contain up to 8% lead by weight.  Various beverages, especially acidic ones, may indeed leach dangerous amounts of this very toxic metal from the alloy.  This makes it very unwise, if not foolhardy, to drink from brass vessels.  Other than plating it with an inert (i.e., precious) metal, I am aware of no way to render such a vessel safe for drinking.

Does that answer your question?

[Demetrius]

Okay, Sir Garath.  I have delayed responding to your serious question with a serious answer, hoping a correct one would come from elsewhere.  Alas, it appears that is not to be.  

Did you miss this one?

I believe brass is safe to drink alcoholic and acidic beverages from, unlike pewter.  However, if you are worried about it, a light resin treatment to the inside of the cup should make it safe.  or a thin coat of beeswax. 

What do you do with an unsafe brass cup...

[angusmacinnes]

What do you do with an unsafe brass cup?

Put it on display somewhere or have a clock maker turn it into a nice time piece.  IMHO.

[Betty Munro]

Find a slightly smaller safe drinking vessel and gorilla glue it inside the brass mug.