Amount Expected To Be Received As A Reduction To MSA payments

No definition available.

Name:	mo_AmountExpectedToBeReceivedAsAReductionToMSApayments
Namespace Prefix:	mo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Appeals Bond Posted By Affiliate

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mo_AppealsBondPostedByAffiliate
Namespace Prefix:	mo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Litigation Settlement Amount Possible Refund due to states pending successful appeal

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mo_LitigationSettlementAmountPossibleRefundtoState
Namespace Prefix:	mo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Litigation settlement, amount Recovery available if Successful on Appeal

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mo_LitigationsettlementamountRecoveryavailableifSuccessfulonAppeal
Namespace Prefix:	mo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Litigation settlement interest Recovery Available if Successful On Appeal

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mo_LitigationsettlementinterestRecoveryAvailableifSuccessfulOnAppeal
Namespace Prefix:	mo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

NPM Adjustment received As a reduction to MSA payments

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mo_NPMAdjustmentReceivedAsAReductionToMSApayments
Namespace Prefix:	mo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of Non-contested States to the 2003 Diligent Enforcement Claims

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mo_NumberofNoncontestedStatestothe2003DiligentEnforcementClaims
Namespace Prefix:	mo_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of States Joining Term Sheet Settlement agreement

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mo_NumberofStatesJoiningSettlement
Namespace Prefix:	mo_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of States Not Joining Term Sheet

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mo_NumberofStatesNotJoiningTermSheet
Namespace Prefix:	mo_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Partial Liability Reduction Percentage for 2003 NPM Adjustment for States that Are Party to Agreement re: Arbitration

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mo_PartialLiabilityReductionPercentageFor2003NPMAdjustmentForStatesThatArePartyToAgreementReArbitration
Namespace Prefix:	mo_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of Signatory States Allocable Share of OPM Aggregate 2003-2012 NPM Adjustments Reduction of Future MSA Payments

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mo_PercentageOfSignatoryStatesAllocableShareOfOpmAggregate20032012NpmAdjustmentsReductionOfFutureMsaPayments
Namespace Prefix:	mo_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Projected Litigation Settlement, Amount

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mo_ProjectedLitigationSettlementAmount
Namespace Prefix:	mo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Projected Litigation Settlement Interest

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mo_ProjectedLitigationSettlementInterest
Namespace Prefix:	mo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Projected Litigation Settlement Interest Not recorded

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mo_ProjectedLitigationSettlementInterestNotrecorded
Namespace Prefix:	mo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Projected Litigation Settlement Interest Possible Refund to states if successful on appeal

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mo_ProjectedLitigationSettlementInterestPossibleRefundtoState
Namespace Prefix:	mo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Projected litigation settlement Interest Reduced Amount

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mo_ProjectedlitigationsettlementInterestReducedAmount
Namespace Prefix:	mo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

States Diligently Enforcing Escrow Statute

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mo_StatesDiligentlyEnforcingEscrowStatute
Namespace Prefix:	mo_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

States Not Diligently Enforcing Escrow Statutes to the MSA for non-participating manufacturers

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mo_StatesNotDiligentlyEnforcingEscrowStatutes
Namespace Prefix:	mo_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses from ongoing operations, after income or loss from equity method investments, but before income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 940

-SubTopic 20

-Section 25

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35710027&loc=d3e41242-110953

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 10

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of judgment or settlement awarded to (against) the entity in respect of litigation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Interest expense (income) directly attributable to an award in settlement of litigation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationSettlementInterest
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=mo_PhilipMorrisUSAMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_NatureOfExpenseAxis=mo_NpmAdjustmentToCostOfSalesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=mo_SmokeableProductsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=mo_IndianaKentuckyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=mo_RemainingnondiligentstatesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=stpr_MO
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Contingencies Contingencies (MSA Settlement Agreement) (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	24 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	May 31, 2013 state	Mar. 31, 2013 state	Dec. 31, 2014 state	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Jul. 01, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of States Joining Settlement Agreement	2mo_NumberofStatesJoiningSettlement		24mo_NumberofStatesJoiningSettlement
Number of States Not Joining Settlement Agreement		15mo_NumberofStatesNotJoiningTermSheet
Percentage of Signatory States Allocable Share of OPM Aggregate 2003-2012 NPM Adjustments Reduction of Future MSA Payments			46.00%
NPM Adjustment Items			$ 90,000,000us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmount	$ 664,000,000us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmount
Earnings (loss) before income taxes			7,774,000,000	6,942,000,000	6,477,000,000
States Not Diligently Enforcing Escrow Statutes			6
States Diligently Enforcing Escrow Statute			9
Partial Liability Reduction Percentage for 2003 NPM Adjustment for States that Are Party to Agreement re: Arbitration			20.00%
Philip Morris USA [Member] \| Non-Participating Manufacturer Adjustment Settlement [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of Non-contested States to the 2003 Diligent Enforcement Claims			14
Smokeable Products [Member] \| Philip Morris USA [Member] \| Non-Participating Manufacturer Arbitration Panel Decision [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation Settlement Interest			(47,000,000)	0		(64,000,000)
Projected Litigation Settlement Interest Not recorded						(25,000,000)
Projected Litigation Settlement Interest						(89,000,000)
NPM Adjustment to Cost Of Sales [Member] \| 2003 NPM Adjustment Amount [Member] \| Non-Participating Manufacturer Adjustment Settlement [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
NPM Adjustment Items							599,000,000
NPM Adjustment Received As A Reduction To MSA payments							579,000,000
Amount Expected To Be Received As A Reduction To MSA payments							20,000,000
NPM Adjustment to Cost Of Sales [Member] \| Smokeable Products [Member] \| Philip Morris USA [Member] \| Non-Participating Manufacturer Adjustment Settlement [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
NPM Adjustment Items			43,000,000	664,000,000				36,000,000	483,000,000	519,000,000
NPM Adjustment to Cost Of Sales [Member] \| Smokeable Products [Member] \| Philip Morris USA [Member] \| Non-Participating Manufacturer Arbitration Panel Decision [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Appeals Bond Posted By Affiliate											22,000,000
NPM Adjustment Items			43,000,000	664,000,000
Projected Litigation Settlement, Amount												145,000,000
NPM Adjustment to Cost Of Sales [Member] \| Smokeable Products [Member] \| Philip Morris USA [Member] \| 2013 Transition Year Adjustment [Member] \| Non-Participating Manufacturer Adjustment Settlement [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
NPM Adjustment Items						35,000,000
Indiana/Kentucky [Member] \| Smokeable Products [Member] \| Philip Morris USA [Member] \| Non-Participating Manufacturer Arbitration Panel Decision [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation Settlement Interest						(17,000,000)		17,000,000
Earnings (loss) before income taxes								26,000,000
Projected Litigation Settlement, Amount						54,000,000							26,000,000
Indiana/Kentucky [Member] \| NPM Adjustment to Cost Of Sales [Member] \| Smokeable Products [Member] \| Philip Morris USA [Member] \| Non-Participating Manufacturer Adjustment Settlement [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
NPM Adjustment Items						37,000,000		43,000,000				80,000,000
Indiana/Kentucky [Member] \| NPM Adjustment to Cost Of Sales [Member] \| Smokeable Products [Member] \| Philip Morris USA [Member] \| 2013 Transition Year Adjustment [Member] \| Non-Participating Manufacturer Adjustment Settlement [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
NPM Adjustment Items														3,000,000
Remaining non-diligent states [Member] \| Smokeable Products [Member] \| Philip Morris USA [Member] \| Non-Participating Manufacturer Arbitration Panel Decision [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
NPM Adjustment Items														79,000,000
Litigation Settlement Interest						(47,000,000)
Projected Litigation Settlement, Amount			108,000,000
Projected Litigation Settlement Interest						(66,000,000)
Projected litigation settlement Interest Reduced Amount						(48,000,000)
Litigation settlement, amount Recovery available if Successful on Appeal														29,000,000
Litigation settlement interest Recovery Available if Successful On Appeal						(18,000,000)
Remaining non-diligent states [Member] \| Smokeable Products [Member] \| Philip Morris USA [Member] \| 2003 NPM Adjustment Amount [Member] \| Non-Participating Manufacturer Arbitration Panel Decision [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
States Not Diligently Enforcing Escrow Statutes			4
MISSOURI \| Smokeable Products [Member] \| Philip Morris USA [Member] \| Non-Participating Manufacturer Arbitration Panel Decision [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Projected Litigation Settlement Interest Possible Refund to State														7,000,000
Litigation Settlement Amount Possible Refund to State														$ 12,000,000