Gen Z ditch grand Valentine's gestures for small, everyday acts of love

From a dozen red roses to oysters and Champagne on ice, Valentine's Day has always been about the grand romantic gesture.

But Gen Z say they have ditched lavish displays of love, with 77% preferring small, sweet acts of devotion, according to new research from Pepsi.

The findings suggest people are moving away from Valentine's Day traditions, with 31% saying they won't mark the occasion at all this year.

Around 40% say they find big displays too intense while a third describe them as "fake", according to the survey carried out by Pepsi and singles events host Thursday.

In fact, just 5% said they genuinely enjoy sweeping, showy expressions of romance.

Abi Blears, dating expert at Thursday, said, "The era of the 'Insta-worthy' date is over. Gen Z can smell a staged moment a mile away and they're actively opting out."

She believes Gen Z daters are prioritising little "sips" of personal moments that show how much you care without making too much of a show.

"We're seeing a massive shift towards 'relation-sipping' - those tiny, unpolished windows of real connection that don't require a suit or a three-month waiting list," she added.

"But not all 'small acts' are created equally. Some people find a 'good morning' text the ultimate boost, while others prefer a quiet 15-minute walk after work to decompress. Treat your relationship like a discovery phase."

The most popular gestures among Gen Z are compliments on outfits, good morning texts and sharing music that reminds you of each other.

For those who do want a date night, simple plans such as watching a favourite film together or visiting a much-loved restaurant feel more appealing than extravagant experiences.

Pepsi is celebrating "relation-sipping" with two new sweet but Zero Sugar flavours, Strawberries 'n' Cream & Cream Soda - and launching a '28 Days of Relation-sips' card game to help people create those little moments that matter.

For those looking for love, Pepsi and Thursday will host a one-off dating event, Love at First Sip, on February 12 in London. Those attending will be able to share Pepsi cocktails including Pepsi Zero Sugar Strawberries 'n' Cream and Cream Soda, live DJ sets, Sofa Sessions and speedy dating games designed to spark real-life chemistry.

Steven Hind, chief marketing officer at Pepsi UK&I, says: "At Pepsi, we believe the best moments in life are found in little treats, which we bring to life through our Pepsi Zero Sugar Strawberries 'n' Cream and Cream Soda flavours.

"Our partnership with Thursday celebrates the beauty of the small stuff in dating and our '28 Days of Relation-sips' card game is designed to help people looking to date to prioritise these micro-moments, making dating a little sweeter, one sip at a time."

To find out more about Love at First Sip, visit: https://events.getthursday.com/event/thursday-x-pepsi-love-at-first-sip-the-ministry-borough/

The top 10 relation-sip gestures

Complimenting your outfit (50%)

Sending a good morning text (50%)

Watching their favourite film together (48%)

Vibe check to see how their day/week is going (46%)

Remembering and getting your sweet treat (44%)

Taking you to your go-to food spot (38%)

Listening to your favourite artist together (38%)

Sharing music with you that reminds them of you (38%)

Creating nicknames for each other (36%)

Remembering your exact coffee (or drink) order (31%)