XML 127 R60.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.1.9

Investment in SABMiller (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |
Earnings from equity investment in SABMiller | $ 1,006,000,000 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments | $ 991,000,000 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments | $ 1,224,000,000 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
SABMiller Plc [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |
Gains included in Earnings From Equity Method Investment |  |  | 342,000,000 mo_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationIncomeLossfromEquityMethodInvestmentsStrategicAlliance / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = mo_SABMillerPlcMember
Undistributed earnings from equity method investment | 3,000,000,000 us-gaap_RetainedEarningsUndistributedEarningsFromEquityMethodInvestees / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = mo_SABMillerPlcMember |  |
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | SABMiller Plc [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |
Fair value of investment in SABMiller | 6,200,000,000 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = mo_SABMillerPlcMember | 6,500,000,000 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = mo_SABMillerPlcMember |
Level 1 [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | SABMiller Plc [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |
Fair value of investment in SABMiller | $ 22,500,000,000 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = mo_SABMillerPlcMember | $ 22,100,000,000 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = mo_SABMillerPlcMember |

X
- Definition Gains included in earnings from equity method investment + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mo_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationIncomeLossfromEquityMethodInvestmentsStrategicAlliance
Namespace Prefix: | mo_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Fair value portion of investments accounted under the equity method. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35740979&loc=d3e32014-111567 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition This item represents the entity's proportionate share for the period of the net income (loss) of its investee (such as unconsolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures) to which the equity method of accounting is applied. This item includes income or expense related to stock-based compensation based on the investor's grant of stock to employees of an equity method investee. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 9 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35755396&loc=d3e33749-111570 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.12) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 11 -Article 7 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of consolidated retained earnings that represent undistributed (not yet received) earnings from 50% or less owned persons accounted for by the equity method (equity method investees). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 852 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6462270&loc=d3e57205-112772 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RetainedEarningsUndistributedEarningsFromEquityMethodInvestees
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=mo_SABMillerPlcMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |