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Contingencies (Certain Other Actions Narrative) (Details) (USD $) | Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
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Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |
Tobacco Price Cases | 1 mo_TobaccoPriceCases |
Contingent liability related to performance surety bonds | $ 32,000,000 us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure |
Redeemable noncontrolling interest | 34,000,000 us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityCarryingAmount | 35,000,000 us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityCarryingAmount
Argentine Growers Case [Member] |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |
Loss Contingency, Pending Claims, Number | 6 us-gaap_LossContingencyPendingClaimsNumber / us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis = mo_ArgentineGrowersCaseMember |
Letter of Credit [Member] |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount | 66,000,000 us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount / us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis = us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember |
Credit Agreement [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |
Credit line available under the agreement | $ 3,000,000,000 us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity / us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis = us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = mo_CreditAgreementMember |

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- Definition Tobacco Price Cases + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | mo_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

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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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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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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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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 22 -Article 5 + Details
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Period Type: | instant

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- Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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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 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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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
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Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Details
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Namespace Prefix: |
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Period Type: |

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- Details
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Namespace Prefix: |
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Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
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Namespace Prefix: |
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Balance Type: |
Period Type: |