Lobbying for Your Restaurant: Inside the ARA with Dan Bogert | EP202

Step into Episode 202 of On The Delo as Delo sits down with Dan Bogert, 10-year Government Affairs veteran at the Arizona Restaurant Association, to pull back the curtain on the policy battles, legislative wins, and behind-the-scenes advocacy that protect Arizona's restaurant industry every single day. From a viral "Free the Scoop" ice cream bill to negotiating directly with the governor's office twice a week through a global pandemic, Dan brings the kind of candid insider knowledge that rarely makes the news but directly shapes how every operator runs their business.The conversation covers a sweeping decade of high-stakes moments: COVID shutdowns, the $4M outdoor dining program, the messy road to getting alcohol-to-go codified into law, now finally simplified as a clean permit as of January 1, 2026, plus the ongoing fight against dram shop liability and the Torres Supreme Court ruling that changed the game. Dan also flags what operators should be watching right now in 2026: the mainstream rise of generic GLP-1 drugs quietly suppressing restaurant traffic, a new Tempe drink-spiking ordinance, and Arizona's shifting labor regulation landscape. They close with a genuine breakdown of why an ARA membership — starting at $495/year — can be one of the most valuable investments a restaurant owner makes, giving operators a strong voice at the Capitol and access to the advocacy that helps protect and shape Arizona’s restaurant industry. The episode wraps with a rapid-fire round that reveals Dan was a competitive swimmer who’d choose dishwasher if he ever crossed over to restaurant life.Chapter Guide (Timestamps):(0:00 - 2:04) Intro: Episode 202, Meet Dan Bogert & the Arizona Rain(2:04 - 3:35) Dan's Background: Tempe Native, Wildland Firefighter & Federal Reserve(3:35 - 6:38) Landing at the ARA, Lobbying Life & the Learning Curve(6:38 - 10:38) First Big Win: The Ice Cream Bill & "Free the Scoop"(10:38 - 14:32) COVID-19: Shutdowns, Reopening Guidance & the $4M Outdoor Dining Program(14:32 - 18:40) Alcohol To-Go: AZ To Go Week, Executive Orders & the 2021 Legislative Fix(18:40 - 21:25) What Is an Executive Order? A Plain-Language Breakdown(21:25 - 26:20) What Arizona Gets Right, Dram Shop Failures & the Torres Ruling(26:20 - 33:27) ARA Membership Value: Lobbying, Regulatory Support & Why $495 Is Worth It(33:27 - 37:29) 2026 Watch: GLP-1 Drugs, Drink Spiking Ordinances & Consumer Shifts(37:29 - 41:52) Rapid Fire: Whiskey, Speedo vs. Swim Trunks & Sushi in Vegas(41:52 - 43:07) Arizona Restaurant Week in May & Outro👉 If this conversation gave you a sharper view of the laws, advocacy, and community resources shaping Arizona's restaurant industry, hit Subscribe so you never miss a conversation with the people driving it.💬 Drop a comment with the moment that hit hardest — and share this episode with any operator who should know the ARA has their back.🍴 Learn more and join the Arizona Restaurant Association: https://azrestaurant.org/