XML 69 R55.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.5.0.2

Debt (Schedule of Debt Extinguishment) (Details) - Senior Notes [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2016 | Mar. 31, 2015 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2015
Extinguishment of Debt [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Notes Purchased | $ 933 | $ 793 | $ 933 | $ 793
9.95% Senior Notes Due 2038 [Member] |  |  |  |
Extinguishment of Debt [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Notes Purchased |  |  | 441 | 0
10.20% Senior Notes Due 2039 [Member] |  |  |  |
Extinguishment of Debt [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Notes Purchased |  |  | 492 | 0
9.70% Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member] |  |  |  |
Extinguishment of Debt [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Notes Purchased |  |  | $ 0 | $ 793

X
- Definition Gross amount of debt extinguished. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
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_ExtinguishmentOfDebtLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis=us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=mo_A9.95SeniorNotesDue2038Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=mo_A10.20SeniorNotesDue2039Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=mo_A9.70SeniorNotesDue2018Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |