Just to compress your alternative method a little bit more: 
my %lookup = (
   'coffee' => 'non alky',
   'beer'   => 'alky',
   'whisky' => 'proper alky',
);

$drink = exists $lookup{$punter} ? $lookup{$punter} : 'unknown';
# or another option:
# $drink = $lookup{$punter} || 'unknown';

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In reply to Re^2: Simple IF, IF, IF or ELSE by dsheroh
in thread Simple IF, IF, IF or ELSE by abachus

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