Dear Monks,

please consider 
my $str1 = "beer=10&otherstuff&vodka=20&otherstuff&chips=100";
my $str2 = "beer=10&otherstuff&juice=20&otherstuff&chips=100";

my $re = qr/beer=(\d{2}).*(vodka=(\d{2})).*chips=(\d{3})/;
{
$str1 =~ /$re/ ? say "matches" : say "doesn't match"; 
say "$1  $2   $3   $4  ";
}
{
$str2 =~ /$re/? say "matches" : say "doesn't match";
say "$1  $2   $3   $4  ";
}

[download]

I would like to modify the regex so that it "matches" both strings.
I know I have to tell this expression that the middle part (the double parens around vodka) is optional, but whatever I've tried with *+? and friends it either makes $re not match str2 or it misses $2, $3 in str1 (not initialized).

Thank you for sharing you knowledge.

In reply to Likely trivial regex question by moodywoody

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