XML 79 R63.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.7.0.1

Contingencies (UST Litigations Narrative) (Details) - UST Litigation [Member] | 3 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2017 plantiff | Jul. 31, 2016 case
WEST VIRGINIA [Member] |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |
Number of plaintiffs | plantiff | 3 |
CALIFORNIA [Member] |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |
Number of cases pending | case |  | 1

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 Number of plaintiffs that have filed claims pertaining to a loss contingency. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyNumberOfPlaintiffs
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- 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
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyPendingClaimsNumber
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=stpr_WV
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=stpr_CA
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |