XML 163 R74.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9

Long-Term Debt (Extinguishment of Debt) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012
Extinguishment of Debt [Line Items]
Premiums and fees									$ 44mo_DebtTenderPremiumandFees	$ 1,054mo_DebtTenderPremiumandFees	$ 864mo_DebtTenderPremiumandFees
Write-off of unamortized debt discounts and debt issuance costs									0mo_WriteoffofUnamortizedDebtDiscountsandDebtIssuanceCosts	30mo_WriteoffofUnamortizedDebtDiscountsandDebtIssuanceCosts	10mo_WriteoffofUnamortizedDebtDiscountsandDebtIssuanceCosts
Pre-tax Loss On Early Extinguishment of Debt	44us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt	0us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt	0us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt	0us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt	1,084us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt	0us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt	0us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt	0us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt	44us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt	1,084us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt	874us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
Senior Notes [Member]
Extinguishment of Debt [Line Items]
Notes purchased					2,100us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember					2,100us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember	2,000us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember	2,000us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
9.95% Note [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Extinguishment of Debt [Line Items]
Notes purchased										818us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = mo_NinePointNineFivePercentNoteMember / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember	0us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = mo_NinePointNineFivePercentNoteMember / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Stated interest rate					9.95%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = mo_NinePointNineFivePercentNoteMember / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember					9.95%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = mo_NinePointNineFivePercentNoteMember / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember	9.95%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = mo_NinePointNineFivePercentNoteMember / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
10.20% Note [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Extinguishment of Debt [Line Items]
Notes purchased										782us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = mo_TenPointTwoZeroPercentNoteMember / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember	0us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = mo_TenPointTwoZeroPercentNoteMember / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Stated interest rate					10.20%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = mo_TenPointTwoZeroPercentNoteMember / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember					10.20%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = mo_TenPointTwoZeroPercentNoteMember / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember	10.20%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = mo_TenPointTwoZeroPercentNoteMember / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
9.70% Note[Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Extinguishment of Debt [Line Items]
Notes purchased										293us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = mo_NinePointSevenZeroPercentNoteMember / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember	1,151us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = mo_NinePointSevenZeroPercentNoteMember / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Stated interest rate					9.70%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = mo_NinePointSevenZeroPercentNoteMember / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember					9.70%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = mo_NinePointSevenZeroPercentNoteMember / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember	9.70%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = mo_NinePointSevenZeroPercentNoteMember / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
9.25% Note [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Extinguishment of Debt [Line Items]
Notes purchased										$ 207us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = mo_NinePointTwoFivePercentNoteMember / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember	$ 849us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = mo_NinePointTwoFivePercentNoteMember / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Stated interest rate					9.25%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = mo_NinePointTwoFivePercentNoteMember / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember					9.25%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = mo_NinePointTwoFivePercentNoteMember / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember	9.25%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = mo_NinePointTwoFivePercentNoteMember / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember

X

- Definition

Debt Tender Premium and Fees

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
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X

- Definition

Write off of Unamortized Debt Discounts and Debt Issuance Costs

+ References

No definition available.

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X

- 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

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X

- Definition

Gross amount of debt extinguished.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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X

- Definition

Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 50

-Section 40

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6850294&loc=d3e12317-112629



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 50

-Section 40

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6850294&loc=d3e12355-112629

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