XML 49 R35.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.5.0.2

Background and Basis of Presentation (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) |  | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 15 Months Ended |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Oct. 24, 2016 | Oct. 31, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2015 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Sep. 30, 2015 | Oct. 10, 2016 | Jul. 31, 2015 | Jul. 31, 2014
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Increase in quarterly dividend |  |  | 8.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Dividends declared (usd per share) |  |  | $ 0.61 | $ 0.565 | $ 1.74 | $ 1.605 | $ 2.17 |  |  |  |
Annualized dividend rate |  |  |  |  | $ 2.44 |  |  |  |  |  |
Repurchase of common stock (shares) |  |  | 2,600,000 | 1,200,000 | 8,100,000 | 10,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Average price of repurchased shares, per share (usd per share) |  |  | $ 66.23 | $ 50.39 | $ 63.28 | $ 51.47 |  |  |  |  |
Debt issuance costs |  |  | $ 79,000,000 |  | $ 79,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounting Standards Update 2015-03 [Member] | Other Assets [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt issuance costs |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ (72,000,000) |  |  |  |
Accounting Standards Update 2015-03 [Member] | Long-term Debt [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt issuance costs |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 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) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 20,400,000.0 |  |  |
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 |  |  | $ 453,000,000 |  | $ 453,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
SABMiller [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investment, ownership percentage (approximately) |  |  | 27.00% |  | 27.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event [Member] | July 2015 Share Repurchase Program [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Planned share repurchase program |  | $ 3,000,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Additional authorized amount |  | $ 2,000,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event [Member] | SABMiller [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Shares owned/shares purchased (in shares) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 430,000,000 |  |
Subsequent Event [Member] | AB InBev [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investment, ownership percentage (approximately) | 10.20% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9.60% |  |
Shares owned/shares purchased (in shares) | 12,341,937 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total cost of AB InBev shares purchased | $ 1,600,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

X
- Definition Annualized Dividend Rate + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mo_AnnualizedDividendRate
Namespace Prefix: | mo_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Common Stock, Increase (Decrease) in Dividend Rate, Percentage + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mo_CommonStockIncreaseDecreaseinDividendRatePercentage
Namespace Prefix: | mo_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Share Repurchase Program, Additional Authorized Amount + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mo_ShareRepurchaseProgramAdditionalAuthorizedAmount
Namespace Prefix: | mo_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Aggregate dividends declared during the period for each share of common stock outstanding. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount, after accumulated amortization, of debt issuance costs. Includes, but is not limited to, legal, accounting, underwriting, printing, and registration costs. + 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=64930785&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=66011266&loc=d3e33918-111571 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Balance held at close of period in number of shares. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 320 -Section S99 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-12C.Column B) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50485924&loc=d3e611225-123010 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 320 -Section S99 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-14.Column B) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50485924&loc=d3e611322-123010 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 320 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-12.Column B) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50485924&loc=d3e611133-123010 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InvestmentOwnedBalanceShares
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The cash outflow associated with the purchase of all investments (debt, security, other) during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Investing Activities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 13 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3213-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInvestments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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 S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770 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(29)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: 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 + 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=us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201503Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=us-gaap_LongTermDebtMember
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: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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