In the face of customers being accused of selling tobacco products to minors, defense strategies need to be cautious, legal, and ethical. The following is a possible defense idea, but please note that this is for reference only, and the specific strategy should be formulated by a professional lawyer in accordance with local laws and the specific circumstances of the case. ### 1. **Clarify the purpose of the investigation** -**Legal and compliance investigation**: First of all, it is emphasized that the customer's behavior is for legal and compliance market research purposes, not for illegal profits. Relevant evidence, such as internal documents, meeting minutes or emails, can be provided to prove that the customer is indeed conducting a market survey on the tobacco consumption behavior of minors. -**Social responsibility**: Explain that customers hope to provide data support for the formulation of more effective anti-tobacco policies by understanding the ways in which minors are exposed to tobacco, so as to fulfill their corporate social responsibilities. ### 2. **Emphasize the non-profit nature of behavior** -**No profit motive**: Provide financial records or other evidence to prove that the customer did not profit from this behavior, and may even bear additional costs (such as investigation costs). This helps refute the “illegal profit” part of the accusation. -**Temporary investigation**: Emphasize that this is a one-time, temporary investigation, not a continuous sales activity, to show that the customer does not intend to sell tobacco to minors for a long time. ### 3. **Comply with the legal framework** -**The scope permitted by law**: If local law allows similar market research under specific circumstances (for example, under relevant permission or supervision), it can provide relevant legal basis or prove that the customer has obtained the necessary authorization. -**Unintentionally breaking the law**: It is emphasized that the customer did not intentionally violate the law during the investigation, but may have misunderstandings or negligence in the operation. For example, the customer may believe that the investigation is within the scope permitted by law, or that reasonable measures have been taken to avoid the direct sale of tobacco to minors. ### 4. **Strengthen future compliance measures** -**Improvement measures**: Promise that customers will take stricter compliance measures, such as strengthening staff training and improving internal audit processes, to ensure that similar incidents will not occur in the future. -**Actively cooperate with the investigation**: Indicate that the customer is willing to actively cooperate with the investigation of the relevant departments and provide all necessary information to clarify the facts. ### 5. **Public image and social responsibility** -**Positive image**: Emphasize the customer's long-standing good record of complying with the law and fulfilling social responsibilities to prove that this incident is an individual behavior, not a manifestation of corporate culture. -**Commitment to public welfare**: Propose that customers are willing to make up for the possible negative impact of this incident by donating or supporting anti-tobacco public welfare activities. ### 6. **Legal and ethical balance** - **Moral defense**: In the defense process, it is always emphasized that the client's behavior is not out of malice, but out of understanding of market needs and concern for public health. At the same time, admit that there may be mistakes in the operation process, and are willing to take responsibility. ### Important reminder： -**Legal advice**: The above strategies are only general recommendations. Specific cases require professional lawyers to formulate specific defense plans based on local laws and case details. - **Ethical considerations**: The sale of tobacco products to minors, no matter what the purpose is, may have a negative impact on public health. Therefore, in the defense process, social responsibility and ethical standards should always be used as the starting point to avoid causing public disgust. In the end, the core of the defense is to prove that the customer's behavior is not for illegal profit, but for legitimate market research purposes, while acknowledging and correcting possible operational errors.