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Additional Information Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Allowance For Discounts [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance at beginning of year | $ 0 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = mo_AllowanceForDiscountsMember |  | $ 0 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = mo_AllowanceForDiscountsMember |  | $ 0 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = mo_AllowanceForDiscountsMember |
Charged to costs and expenses | 599 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = mo_AllowanceForDiscountsMember |  | 610 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = mo_AllowanceForDiscountsMember |  | 619 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = mo_AllowanceForDiscountsMember |
Deductions | (599)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = mo_AllowanceForDiscountsMember | [1] | (610)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = mo_AllowanceForDiscountsMember | [1] | (619)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = mo_AllowanceForDiscountsMember | [1]
Balance at end of year | 0 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = mo_AllowanceForDiscountsMember |  | 0 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = mo_AllowanceForDiscountsMember |  | 0 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = mo_AllowanceForDiscountsMember |
Allowance For Returned Goods [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance at beginning of year | 41 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = mo_AllowanceForReturnedGoodsMember |  | 42 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = mo_AllowanceForReturnedGoodsMember |  | 54 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = mo_AllowanceForReturnedGoodsMember |
Charged to costs and expenses | 179 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = mo_AllowanceForReturnedGoodsMember |  | 150 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = mo_AllowanceForReturnedGoodsMember |  | 114 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = mo_AllowanceForReturnedGoodsMember |
Deductions | (174)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = mo_AllowanceForReturnedGoodsMember | [1] | (151)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = mo_AllowanceForReturnedGoodsMember | [1] | (126)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = mo_AllowanceForReturnedGoodsMember | [1]
Balance at end of year | $ 46 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = mo_AllowanceForReturnedGoodsMember |  | $ 41 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = mo_AllowanceForReturnedGoodsMember |  | $ 42 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = mo_AllowanceForReturnedGoodsMember |
[1] | Represents the recording of discounts and returns for which allowances were created.

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- Definition Total of allowances and reserves, the valuation and qualifying accounts that are either netted against the cost of an asset (in order to value it at its carrying value) or that reflect a liability established to represent expected future costs. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e24092-122690 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 09 -Article 12 + Details
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- Definition Total of allowances and reserves, the valuation and qualifying accounts that are either netted against the cost of an asset (in order to value it at its carrying value) or that reflect a liability established to represent expected future costs, charged to costs and expenses. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e24092-122690 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 09 -Article 12 + Details
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Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Total of the deductions in a given period to allowances and reserves, the valuation and qualifying accounts that are either netted against the cost of an asset (in order to value it at its carrying value) or that reflect a liability established to represent expected future costs, representing receivables written off as uncollectible and portions of the reserves utilized, respectively. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e24092-122690 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 09 -Article 12 + Details
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- Details
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- Details
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Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |