When Palo Alto officials recently began contemplating a fine for minors who vape in public, Councilman Greg Tanaka called it a cutting-edge approach necessitated by the growth of youth vaping — a phenomenon public health officials are calling an epidemic.

Palo Alto would not be the first city to impose a fine for underage possession of tobacco products, which include e-cigarettes and regular cigarettes. But the approach is unusual and comes at a time when officials at virtually all levels of government are grappling with how to get teen vaping under control.