Francesco Schettino, who is under house arrest accused of manslaughter and abandoning ship after he grounded the Costa Concordia on the island of Giglio following the collision, has told investigators that he had not drunk alcohol that night.

Despite the widespread public scrutiny and various rumors following the 2012 disaster, there was no official evidence that Captain Francesco Schettino was drunk at the time the Costa Concordia struck a rock off the coast of Isola del Giglio. Following the accident, Schettino underwent mandatory toxicological testing, and the results for both alcohol and illegal drugs were negative. However, the investigation focused heavily on his professional negligence and personal conduct rather than substance abuse. The court found that he had performed an unauthorized "salute" maneuver too close to the shore and subsequently abandoned the ship while over 300 passengers and crew were still on board. His actions—or lack thereof—led to his conviction on charges of multiple manslaughter, causing a maritime accident, and abandoning ship. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison. While his behavior during the crisis was described by many as erratic or cowardly, the legal and forensic records confirm that he was not intoxicated; rather, the tragedy was attributed to a catastrophic series of human errors and a failure of command responsibility.