XML 47 R33.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.5.0.2

Background and Basis of Presentation (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 15 Months Ended |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2016 | Jun. 30, 2015 | Jun. 30, 2016 | Jun. 30, 2015 | Sep. 30, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Jul. 31, 2015 | Jul. 31, 2014
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Repurchase of common stock, shares | 2.7 | 5.2 | 5.5 | 8.8 |  |  |  |
Average price of repurchased shares, per share (usd per share) | $ 64.06 | $ 50.64 | $ 61.90 | $ 51.63 |  |  |  |
Accounting Standards Update 2015-03 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt issuance costs | $ 69,000,000 |  | $ 69,000,000 |  |  | $ 72,000,000 |  |
July 2014 Share Repurchase Program [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Planned share repurchase program |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,000,000,000
Repurchase of common stock, shares |  |  |  |  | 20.4 |  |  |
Average price of repurchased shares, per share (usd per share) |  |  |  |  | $ 48.90 |  |  |
July 2015 Share Repurchase Program [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Planned share repurchase program |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,000,000,000 |
Remaining authorized repurchase amount | $ 624,000,000 |  | $ 624,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
SABMiller Plc [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investment, ownership percentage (approximately) | 27.00% |  | 27.00% |  |  |  |  |

X
- Definition For an unclassified balance sheet, the carrying amount (net of accumulated amortization) as of the balance sheet date of capitalized costs associated with the issuance of debt instruments (for example, legal, accounting, underwriting, printing, and registration costs) that will be charged against earnings over the life of the debt instruments to which such costs pertain. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28555-108399 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 210.5-02.17) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityClassOfTreasuryStockLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of stock repurchase plan authorized. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount remaining of a stock repurchase plan authorized. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Total cost of shares repurchased divided by the total number of shares repurchased. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6405813&loc=d3e23239-112655 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of shares that have been repurchased during the period and are being held in treasury. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 29, 30 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Article 3 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=mo_AccountingStandardsUpdate201503Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis=mo_July2014ShareRepurchaseProgramMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis=mo_July2015ShareRepurchaseProgramMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=mo_SABMillerPlcMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |