I used to have similar constructs to read and set cookies, but since it turned out to be very error prone, and I'm lazy, I now use the cookie system that's build in in CGI and CGI::Cookie.

I suggest you give it a try.

Joost.

PS: There might still be problems with setting cookies on certain browsers because of privacy setting and the like, but at least you can be reasonably sure it's not your code that's the problem.