The city of Steinbach is voting on whether to loosen its laws on liquor.

Advance polls are being held in a referendum to determine whether residents should have greater access to booze.

Steinbach residents can now buy liquor at a store after city council voted 4-2 in 2008 to allow a liquor store to open in the long-dry community.

They can also have an alcoholic drink at a restaurant so long as they are having a meal.

But Steinbach doesn't have any lounges or beverage rooms. However, Mayor Chris Goertzen says it's inevitable the law will continue to relax.

"Some of the old thinking has gone by the wayside and so the city is changing [and] the laws are changing sowly," he said.

The referendum was spurred by Boston Pizza, which wants to open in Steinbach but won't if it can't operate a lounge.

David Reimer, the pastor at Shalom family Worship Centre in the city, is against any access to booze.

"As soon as you open the door even a crack then it becomes, in my mind, a downward spiral," he said.

The city of 13,000 is located about 50 kilometres southeast of Winnipeg.