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v2.4.1.9

Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Nov. 14, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt repaid | $ 525,000,000 us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt | $ 825,000,000 us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt | $ 3,559,000,000 us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt | $ 2,600,000,000 us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt |  |  |
Senior Notes [Member] | Change Of Control And Loss Of Investment Grade Rating [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Required purchase price as percentage of aggregate principal amount |  | 101.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPricePercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis = us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodOneMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember |  |  |  |  |
2.625% Notes Due 2020 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Aggregate principal amount |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,000,000,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = mo_A2.625NotesDue2020Member / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Stated interest rate |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2.625%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = mo_A2.625NotesDue2020Member / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Senior Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount |  |  | 2,100,000,000 us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember | 2,000,000,000 us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember | 2,100,000,000 us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember | 2,000,000,000 us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember |
Subject to Credit Rating Step Up [Member] | Notes Issued, 2008 and 2009 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Aggregate principal amount |  | 4,200,000,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = mo_NotesIssued2008and2009Member / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember / us-gaap_VariableRateAxis = mo_SubjecttoCreditRatingStepUpMember |  |  |  |  |
UST [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Stated interest rate |  | 5.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / dei_LegalEntityAxis = mo_USTMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember |  |  |  |  |
Debt Redeemed |  | $ 300,000,000 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRepurchaseAmount / dei_LegalEntityAxis = mo_USTMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember |  |  |  |  |

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- Definition Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 55 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34725769&loc=d3e28878-108400 + Details
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- Definition Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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- Definition Percentage price of original principal amount of debt at which debt can be redeemed by the issuer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 470 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph e -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6479336&loc=d3e64711-112823 + Details
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- Definition The cash outflow for debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3291-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Financing Activities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228 + Details
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