The High Court has found the two main publicans' organisations to be in contempt of court because they recommended a price freeze to their members that was in breach of previous court orders.
The Competition Authority welcomed the judgment, while the publicans said they were disappointed.
The authority had claimed that an announcement in December last by the Licensed Vintners Association and the Vintners' Federation of Ireland, of a one-year price freeze, was in breach of previous undertakings given to the court in settlement proceedings over alleged drink price fixing.
The authority claimed a price freeze during a recession was likely to result in substantial harm to the consumer and breached the 2002 Competition Act.
Publican groups denied the claims.
In his ruling, Mr Justice Liam McKechnie found the publican groups to be in contempt of court for recommending a price freeze to its members because they were in breach of previous High Court orders.
Mr Justice McKechnie has given both sides until next Wednesday to decide what action will be taken.
