What is ‘relation-sipping’? The relationship trend that has got everyone’s attention ahead of Valentine’s Day

Gen Z is officially done with grand romantic gestures. Instead, they’re choosing relation-sipping — small, thoughtful moments that feel real, not performative. (Image: Pexels)

• Gen Z prefers small, personal gestures over grand romantic displays.
• 77% of Gen Z daters value everyday actions like compliments and texts.
• Gen Z daters view extravagant gestures as intense, fake, or inauthentic.

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Many of us have been brought up on ideas of love that centred around grand gestures, including fairytale proposals, extravagant gifts, the airport chase, and more. Earlier, these ideas were mainly popularised by films and literature (and they still continue to be), and later by social media. However, it seems the tide is turning.

Relation-sipping: Gen Z’s idea of love

Relation-sipping is moving away from grand gestures sold to us over the years and focusing on personal moments that bring joy.

To celebrate its sweet but zero-sugar flavours, Pepsi and an IRL dating brand released new research confirming that performative acts of love are officially out. Instead, Gen Z daters in the UK are now prioritising ‘relation-sipping’ — smaller, sweeter little “sips” over sweeping gestures.

Also Read: Why love at first sight feels real: Brain chemistry, eye contact and the truth behind the spark decoded

A whopping 77% of Gen Z daters said they prefer smaller, personal gestures over extravagant ones (5%). This marks a pronounced shift from what has been fed to previous generations.

What is out according to the research? 

According to research, 1 in 3 (31%) admit that these traditional tropes certainly won’t be a part of their Valentine’s day this year:

• turning up to their work with flowers/a gift (25%)
• posting them on social (24%)
• taking them on a surprise trip (22%)
• buying them a teddy bear (20%)
• asking them to be their girlfriend / boyfriend (20%).

Some of the reasons for avoiding them included: finding them intense (37%), they feel like fake dating (32%), or they feel inauthentic (26%) and impersonal (20%). For Gen Z daters intimacy is not about grand displays, they are rather small everyday actions and gestures that counts, and that’s exactly what “relation-sipping” is.

Top 10 ‘relation-sip’ gestures

The research mentioned the following top gestures:

1. Top 10 Relation-sip Gestures
2. Complimenting your outfit (50%)
3. Sending a good morning text (50%)
4. Watching their favourite film together (48%)
5. Vibe check to see how their day/week is going (46%)
6. Remembering and getting your sweet treat (44%)
7. Taking you to your go-to food spot (38%)
8. Listening to your favourite artist together (38%)
9. Sharing music with you that reminds them of you (38%)
10. Creating nicknames for each other (36%)
11. Remembering your exact coffee (or drink) order (31%)

Also Read: Valentine’s Week 2026: From roses to oud, how fragrance-led interiors are redefining Valentine’s Day at home

Why this shift? 

According to the research, 83% of Gen Z felt seen and 85% felt valued through these ‘relation-sip’ gestures. Additionally, 46% of them considered it a deal breaker if these small gestures weren’t part of their relationship. And that’s not where it ends, 65% reported they’d be horrified by extravagant gestures.

This shows how Gen Z values “thinking of someone” during everyday chores more than going overboard with performative acts of love.