盃に口をつけてごまかすほど to describe a 祝杯


A person was excited for the trip tomorrow and couldn't sleep. Reflecting on
why he didn't drink much at last night's party:

> こうしたとき酒が飲めれば、したたか酔うて眠ればよい。しかし祝杯すらも盃に口をつけてごまかすほどであるから、秘めたる興奮のさましようはなかった。

盃に口をつけてごまかすほど - what does this mean (e.g. does this mean that 祝杯 was small,
one 口-ish size only)?




The first sentence indicates that the writer cannot drink. Then in the next he
goes on to describe how much of a lightweight/teetotaler he is by saying,
"祝杯すらも盃に口をつけてごまかすほどである" -- his alcohol aversion is such that, even when
participating in celebratory drinking of sake, he only goes through the
motions of drinking by just touching his mouth to 盃!

