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

X

- 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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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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Balance Type:	credit
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X

- 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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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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X

- 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

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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Balance Type:	debit
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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

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- Details

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X

- Details

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