diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp
index 76e60c7880..d7a74ee7c1 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp
@@ -1100,12 +1100,14 @@ namespace MWClass
         return getNpcStats(ptr).isWerewolf() ? 0.0f : Actor::getEncumbrance(ptr);
     }
 
-    bool Npc::apply (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, const std::string& id,
-        const MWWorld::Ptr& actor) const
+    bool Npc::consume(const MWWorld::Ptr& consumable, const MWWorld::Ptr& actor) const
     {
-        MWBase::Environment::get().getLuaManager()->appliedToObject(ptr, id, actor);
-        MWMechanics::CastSpell cast(ptr, ptr);
-        return cast.cast(id);
+        MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->breakInvisibility(actor);
+        MWMechanics::CastSpell cast(actor, actor);
+        std::string recordId = consumable.getCellRef().getRefId();
+        MWBase::Environment::get().getLuaManager()->appliedToObject(actor, recordId, actor);
+        actor.getClass().getContainerStore(actor).remove(consumable, 1, actor);
+        return cast.cast(recordId);
     }
 
     void Npc::skillUsageSucceeded (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, int skill, int usageType, float extraFactor) const
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.hpp
index ba937a4cfa..d6ae7cbca5 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.hpp
@@ -110,11 +110,7 @@ namespace MWClass
             float getArmorRating (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr) const override;
             ///< @return combined armor rating of this actor
 
-            bool apply (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, const std::string& id,
-                const MWWorld::Ptr& actor) const override;
-            ///< Apply \a id on \a ptr.
-            /// \param actor Actor that is resposible for the ID being applied to \a ptr.
-            /// \return Any effect?
+            bool consume(const MWWorld::Ptr& consumable, const MWWorld::Ptr& actor) const override;
 
             void adjustScale (const MWWorld::ConstPtr &ptr, osg::Vec3f &scale, bool rendering) const override;
             /// @param rendering Indicates if the scale to adjust is for the rendering mesh, or for the collision mesh
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aicombataction.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aicombataction.cpp
index 3b3ff1da89..c4d2bf9bec 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aicombataction.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aicombataction.cpp
@@ -85,8 +85,7 @@ namespace MWMechanics
 
     void ActionPotion::prepare(const MWWorld::Ptr &actor)
     {
-        actor.getClass().apply(actor, mPotion.getCellRef().getRefId(), actor);
-        actor.getClass().getContainerStore(actor).remove(mPotion, 1, actor);
+        actor.getClass().consume(mPotion, actor);
     }
 
     void ActionWeapon::prepare(const MWWorld::Ptr &actor)
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/actionapply.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/actionapply.cpp
index e3699a6ac3..1699a6aa53 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/actionapply.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/actionapply.cpp
@@ -17,11 +17,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
     void ActionApply::executeImp (const Ptr& actor)
     {
-        MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->breakInvisibility(actor);
-
-        actor.getClass().apply (actor, mId, actor);
-
-        actor.getClass().getContainerStore(actor).remove(getTarget(), 1, actor);
+        actor.getClass().consume(getTarget(), actor);
     }
 
 
@@ -32,11 +28,8 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
     void ActionApplyWithSkill::executeImp (const Ptr& actor)
     {
-        MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->breakInvisibility(actor);
-
-        if (actor.getClass().apply (actor, mId, actor) && mUsageType!=-1 && actor == MWMechanics::getPlayer())
+        bool consumed = actor.getClass().consume(getTarget(), actor);
+        if (consumed && mUsageType != -1 && actor == MWMechanics::getPlayer())
             actor.getClass().skillUsageSucceeded (actor, mSkillIndex, mUsageType);
-
-        actor.getClass().getContainerStore(actor).remove(getTarget(), 1, actor);
     }
 }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/actioneat.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/actioneat.cpp
index a1f568383b..c97c83c0c2 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/actioneat.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/actioneat.cpp
@@ -12,13 +12,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
 {
     void ActionEat::executeImp (const Ptr& actor)
     {
-        // remove used item (assume the item is present in inventory)
-        getTarget().getContainerStore()->remove(getTarget(), 1, actor);
-
-        // apply to actor
-        std::string id = getTarget().getCellRef().getRefId();
-
-        if (actor.getClass().apply (actor, id, actor) && actor == MWMechanics::getPlayer())
+        if (actor.getClass().consume(getTarget(), actor) && actor == MWMechanics::getPlayer())
             actor.getClass().skillUsageSucceeded (actor, ESM::Skill::Alchemy, 1);
     }
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.cpp
index f8a9164fa2..f9b5c53ebd 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.cpp
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
     void Class::insertObjectPhysics(const Ptr& ptr, const std::string& mesh, const osg::Quat& rotation, MWPhysics::PhysicsSystem& physics) const
     {}
 
-    bool Class::apply (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, const std::string& id,  const MWWorld::Ptr& actor) const
+    bool Class::consume(const MWWorld::Ptr& consumable, const MWWorld::Ptr& actor) const
     {
         return false;
     }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.hpp
index 8c52021256..dcef942367 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.hpp
@@ -220,13 +220,8 @@ namespace MWWorld
             virtual float getNormalizedEncumbrance (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr) const;
             ///< Returns encumbrance re-scaled to capacity
 
-            virtual bool apply (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, const std::string& id,
-                const MWWorld::Ptr& actor) const;
-            ///< Apply \a id on \a ptr.
-            /// \param actor Actor that is resposible for the ID being applied to \a ptr.
-            /// \return Any effect?
-            ///
-            /// (default implementation: ignore and return false)
+            virtual bool consume(const MWWorld::Ptr& consumable, const MWWorld::Ptr& actor) const;
+            /// Consume an item, e. g. a potion.
 
             virtual void skillUsageSucceeded (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, int skill, int usageType, float extraFactor=1.f) const;
             ///< Inform actor \a ptr that a skill use has succeeded.