to pour out a libation, to sprinkle
酹 centers on pouring a liquid offering, especially a ritual libation. The sprinkle sense is a lighter application of the same pouring action.
酹 combines 酉 (wine vessel) with 寽, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of handling or pouring. Together they express pouring a wine offering.
The left side is a wine jar 酉, and the right side 寽 looks like a hand holding something. Picture a hand tilting a wine jar to pour out a ritual libation.
For ライ, imagine pouring a libation of rye whiskey: rye -> ライ, and the wine jar 酉 tips to sprinkle the offering.