This study investigated the effectiveness of a life skills program with regard to alcohol consumption, life skills, knowledge, and school bonding for young adolescents. The focus was on the moderating role of gender, based on the assumption that life skills programs may address specific needs of adolescent girls better than those of boys. The universal school-based life skills program IPSY (Information + Psychosocial competence = Protection) was implemented and evaluated over 3 years (longitudinal quasi-experimental design with four measurement points; N = 952, 10 years at T1). Results of (M)ANCOVAs revealed positive general program effects of IPSY on alcohol-related outcomes, life skills, knowledge, and school bonding. As expected, girls profited regarding knowledge of effective communication within groups and self-confidence, but not boys. In contrast, none of the other program effects was moderated by gender. Thus, the program, although lacking gender-specific components, worked well for both boys and girls during early adolescence. (Contains 4 tables.)