2000s era attraction-seduction materials used to hype the first date kiss as an indicator of attraction and a good sign that a man would get a 2nd date. I perceive that was true in the 1990s-2000s.
In more recent times, I've heard arguments against the first date kiss, some of which are being expressed on this thread right now.
There's an idea that the threshold has been moved from a first date kiss to first date sex. I don't buy that idea either. Some think first date sex is a good anti-flaking mechanism as there's never any guarantee you'll ever see the woman again. The idea is that women have a lot of options and that first date sex gets them invested and more likely to respond to phone call or text message among the many options she has because of modern female abundance. The problem with that idea is that it can be very difficult to have amazing and memorable first date sex. Disappointing first date sex is worse than no first date sex at all.
In a lot of cases, trying to push for first date sex has a lot of downsides. Some of the decision on whether to push for first date sex or same night sex from a bar approach would depend on a man's goals in the mating environment. If a man is trying for an extended relationship of some kind, not having first date sex is likely a good idea. Kiss closing for those men is probably good.
If a man wants to have more casual sex arrangements, including same night sex or first date sex, pushing for sex on the first date is a good idea.
I still think the first date kiss holds value though I think there's a case that it might not hold the same value it once did.