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Contingencies (Certain Other Actions) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Income taxes | $ 2,765 us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid | $ 2,448 us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid | $ 3,338 us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid
Contingent liability related to performance surety bonds | 32 us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure |  |
Redeemable noncontrolling interest | 35 us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityCarryingAmount | 35 us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityCarryingAmount |
Michelle-Antinori [Member] |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Ste. Michelle ownership interest percent in Stag's Leap Wine Cellars | 85.00%us-gaap_SubsidiaryOrEquityMethodInvesteeCumulativePercentageOwnershipAfterAllTransactions / dei_LegalEntityAxis = mo_MichelleAntinoriMember |  |
Noncontrolling interest percent held by Antinori California | 15.00%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners / dei_LegalEntityAxis = mo_MichelleAntinoriMember |  |
Purchase Value of Non-controlling Interest as per Put Arrangement | 27 mo_PurchaseValueofNoncontrollingInterestasperPutArrangement / dei_LegalEntityAxis = mo_MichelleAntinoriMember |  |
Lights/Ultra Lights Class Actions [Member] | Illinois Price [Member] |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Loss contingency, period of occurrence | March 2003 |  |
Loss Contingency, Date of Dismissal | Dec. 31, 2006 |  |
Argentine Growers Case [Member] |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of Cases Pending | 6 us-gaap_LossContingencyPendingClaimsNumber / us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis = mo_ArgentineGrowersCaseMember |  |
Letter of Credit [Member] |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount | $ 66 us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount / us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis = us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember |  |

X
- Definition Purchase Value of Non-controlling Interest as per Put Arrangement + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12069-110248 + Details
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X
- Definition The amount of cash paid during the current period to foreign, federal, state, and local authorities as taxes on income. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4297-108586 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 25 -Subparagraph (f) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3536-108585 + Details
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- Definition The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Details
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- Definition Date the pending litigation matter was dismissed, in CCYY-MM-DD format. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Number of pending claims pertaining to a loss contingency. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349 + Details
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- Definition States when the existing condition, situation, or set of circumstances involving uncertainty occurred. + 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 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14557-108349 + Details
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- Definition The equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition As of the reporting date, the aggregate carrying amount of all noncontrolling interests which are redeemable by the (parent) entity (1) at a fixed or determinable price on a fixed or determinable date, (2) at the option of the holder of the noncontrolling interest, or (3) upon occurrence of an event that is not solely within the control of the (parent) entity. This item includes noncontrolling interest holder's ownership (or holders' ownership) regardless of the type of equity interest (common, preferred, other) including all potential organizational (legal) forms of the investee entity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 480 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 3A -Subparagraph 14 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011957&loc=SL6540498-122764 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 480 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 3A -Subparagraph (16)(c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011957&loc=SL6540498-122764 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 480 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 3A -Subparagraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011957&loc=SL6540498-122764 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 480 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 3A -Subparagraph (12)(c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011957&loc=SL6540498-122764 + Details
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- Details
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