diff --git a/typeclasses/drinkables.py b/typeclasses/drinkables.py
index 5e02172..173f310 100755
--- a/typeclasses/drinkables.py
+++ b/typeclasses/drinkables.py
@@ -349,14 +349,13 @@ class Cocktail(Object):
         drink.db.amount = Cocktail.fill_amount
         drink.location = owner
 
-        pre_msg = details.get("pre") + " " or ""
-        drink.location.msg(pre_msg + routput("The << bartender ^ barkeep ^ elf >> << passes ^ slides ^ gives ^ hands >> you a |y{0}|n.", drink.name))
+        pre_msg = details.get("pre", "")
+        drink.location.msg(routput(pre_msg + " The << bartender ^ barkeep ^ elf >> << passes ^ slides ^ gives ^ hands >> you a |y{0}|n.", drink.name))
 
         theroom = drink.location.location
         char = owner.db._sdesc or owner.get_display_name(theroom)
-        msg = pre_msg + \
-            routput("The << bartender ^ barkeep ^ elf >> << passes ^ slides ^ gives ^ hands >> a {0} to {1}.",
-                    drink.db.cocktail_type, char)
+        msg = routput(pre_msg + " The << bartender ^ barkeep ^ elf >> << passes ^ slides ^ gives ^ hands >> a {0} to {1}.",
+                      drink.db.cocktail_type, char)
         theroom.msg_contents(msg, exclude=owner)
 
     def do_drink(self, drinker):