Big Issue wine deal criticisms

A WINE company yesterday defended its controversial sponsorship of the Big Issue after sellers described it as “like some bad, ironic joke”.

The magazine has signed a £60,000 (€71,000) deal that will see its street sellers wearing the logo of wine producer Fairhills on new high-visibility red vests.

However, the charity’s vendors believe the deal is inappropriate as many of them are recovering alcoholics and drug addicts.

Homeless Matthew Blackman, 40, who sells the Big Issue in Bristol city centre, reportedly described the new tabards as “wrong” and “a big mistake”.

He said: “It’s disgusting because most of us vendors are either drug addicts or alcoholics.

“To be sponsored by a company that profits from that seems wrong.

“They are making a big mistake. It’s like some bad, ironic joke.”