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.