XML 71 R57.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.5.0.2

Contingencies (Non-Engle Progeny Cases Trial Results Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Jun. 30, 2016 | Feb. 29, 2012 | May 31, 2002 | Mar. 31, 2002
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Litigation settlement, amount |  |  |  | $ (18,000,000) |  |  |
Non-Engle Progeny Smoking and Health Case, Bullock [Member] | PM USA [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Compensatory damages awarded |  |  | $ 900,000 |  |  |  |
Non-Engle Progeny Smoking and Health Case, Schwarz [Member] | PM USA [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Compensatory damages awarded |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 168,500
Punitive damages awarded |  |  |  |  | $ 25,000,000 | $ 100,000,000 | $ 150,000,000
Litigation settlement, amount |  | $ 500,000 |  |  |  |  |
Provision related to litigation recorded |  |  | $ 34,000,000 |  |  |  |
Payments for settlements | $ 34,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |

X
- Definition Loss Contingency, Compensatory Damages Awarded, Value + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mo_LossContingencyCompensatoryDamagesAwardedValue
Namespace Prefix: | mo_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Loss Contingency, Punitive Damages Awarded, Value + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mo_LossContingencyPunitiveDamagesAwardedValue
Namespace Prefix: | mo_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- 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

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_LossContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount charged against operating income increasing loss contingency liability, after adjustments to reduce previously estimated charges. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualProvision
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of cash paid for the settlement of litigation or for other legal issues during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 25 -Subparagraph (g) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3536-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PaymentsForLegalSettlements
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=mo_NonEngleProgenySmokingandHealthCaseBullockMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=mo_PhilipMorrisUSAMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=mo_NonEngleProgenySmokingandHealthCaseSchwarzMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |