XML 101 R123.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.1.9

Contingencies Contingencies (Judgments Recorded and Paid) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Jun. 30, 2014
Loss Contingency Accrual [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Loss Contingency Accrual Beginning of Period | $ 3 us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue | $ 0 us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue | $ 122 us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue |
Loss Contingency Accrual, Provision | 44 us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualProvision | 22 us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualProvision | 5 us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualProvision |
Payments for Legal Settlements | (8)us-gaap_PaymentsForLegalSettlements | (19)us-gaap_PaymentsForLegalSettlements | (127)us-gaap_PaymentsForLegalSettlements |
Loss Contingency Accrual End of Period | 39 us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue | 3 us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue | 0 us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue |
Tobacco and Health Judgment [Member] |  |  |  |
Loss Contingency Accrual [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Pretax Tobacco and Health charges | 11 mo_PretaxTobaccoAndHealthCharges / us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis = mo_TobaccoandHealthJudgmentMember | 18 mo_PretaxTobaccoAndHealthCharges / us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis = mo_TobaccoandHealthJudgmentMember | 4 mo_PretaxTobaccoAndHealthCharges / us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis = mo_TobaccoandHealthJudgmentMember |
Health Care Cost Recovery Litigation [Member] |  |  |  |
Loss Contingency Accrual [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Loss Contingency Accrual, Provision |  | 0 us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualProvision / us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis = mo_HealthCareCostRecoveryLitigationMember | 0 us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualProvision / us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis = mo_HealthCareCostRecoveryLitigationMember |
Interest Expense [Member] |  |  |  |
Loss Contingency Accrual [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies Accrued Interest | 2 mo_CommitmentsandContingenciesAccruedInterest / us-gaap_NatureOfExpenseAxis = us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember | 4 mo_CommitmentsandContingenciesAccruedInterest / us-gaap_NatureOfExpenseAxis = us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember | 1 mo_CommitmentsandContingenciesAccruedInterest / us-gaap_NatureOfExpenseAxis = us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember |
Federal Governments Lawsuit [Member] |  |  |  |
Loss Contingency Accrual [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Loss Contingency Accrual, Provision | 31 us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualProvision / dei_LegalEntityAxis = mo_FederalGovernmentsLawsuitMember |  |  |
Federal Governments Lawsuit [Member] | Health Care Cost Recovery Litigation [Member] |  |  |  |
Loss Contingency Accrual [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Loss Contingency Accrual, Provision |  |  |  | $ 31 us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualProvision / dei_LegalEntityAxis = mo_FederalGovernmentsLawsuitMember / us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis = mo_HealthCareCostRecoveryLitigationMember

X
- Definition Commitments and Contingencies Accrued Interest + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mo_CommitmentsandContingenciesAccruedInterest
Namespace Prefix: | mo_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Pretax charges for tobacco and health related litigation recorded during the period presented + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mo_PretaxTobaccoAndHealthCharges
Namespace Prefix: | mo_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of loss contingency liability. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount charged against operating income increasing loss contingency liability, after adjustments to reduce previously estimated charges. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualProvision
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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

X
- Definition The amount of cash paid for the settlement of litigation or for other legal issues during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 25 -Subparagraph (g) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3536-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PaymentsForLegalSettlements
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=mo_FederalGovernmentsLawsuitMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=mo_HealthCareCostRecoveryLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=mo_TobaccoandHealthJudgmentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_NatureOfExpenseAxis=us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |