thanks to all the responses
thankfully she got the inka kola for free from the lounge - but didn't even get to try it before confiscation.
I had no issue with wheelchair bound passengers boarding first, but I've never seen such a long parade of them. I figured they may be the sort that just get of at JFK and go straight to bellevue for the free care.
the chemical swab I've seen before, just not at the boarding gate, but also, it seemed they were selecting passengers waiting in line before boarding had even started. That was what made that most strange.
So, if I had a receipt for the inka kola from the store next to the gate would it have been allowed on?
Thanks