My pewter tankards last saw active service when I was a member of a London Morris Dance side in the '70s. We specialised in pub tours that involved hopping on and off the Underground to get from one pub to the next, taking half-finished pints with us (probably illegal now if it wasn't then). Although they do look nice and traditional, I prefer drinking beer from glasses these days!
Never had a pewter one although I have had pewter hip flasks. I enjoy drinking out of my silver ones above. Then again they probably mean more to me having passed a lot of lips through our family.
Many Moons ago, when my office had a bar, one of our porters, a veritable man mountain, had his own glass behind the ramp which was of a similar size to the one above left.
I think it held about 6 pints! and yes he'd fill and finish it every lunchtime, without any obvious effects!!