sub new_dbh {
    ....
    ....
    Establish the database handle
    Check other stuff, etc

}

##</code><code>##

$dbh = new_dbh({host=>'blablah'},{AutoCommit=>1});
$customer_handle="fred";
my $sth = $dbh->prepare(qq{select id from customer where handle=?});
$sth->execute($customer_handle);