Can acidic punch in silverplate be a hazardous combination?
A. It’s true that anything acetic that comes in contact with sterling or leaded crystal will eventually leach into the liquid, though, it would be unusual for it to happen at an accelerated rate. I generally tell my customers to empty liquor from their whisky flasks immediately after use for that reason. If the punchbowl is plated, there may be some base metal (copper, brass, or leaded white metal) showing through and giving the punch a nasty taste.
