XML 228 R130.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.19.3.a.u2

Post-employment benefits for associates - Breakdown of DBO for pension plans by geography and type of member (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018
--- | --- | ---
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Prepaid benefit costs | $ 8 | $ 4
Pension plans [member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 723 | 662
Fair value of plan assets | 451 | 424
Funded status | (272) | (238)
Pension plans [member] | Active [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 440 | 406
Pension plans [member] | Deferred pensioners [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 151 | 150
Pension plans [member] | Pensioners [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 132 | 106
Pension plans [member] | Unfunded plans [member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 99 | 88
Pension plans [member] | Unfunded portion of funded plans [member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 192 | 166
Country of domicile [member] | Switzerland | Pension plans [member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 244 | 201
Fair value of plan assets | 132 | 106
Funded status | (112) | (95)
Country of domicile [member] | Switzerland | Pension plans [member] | Active [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 216 | 166
Country of domicile [member] | Switzerland | Pension plans [member] | Deferred pensioners [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 12 | 18
Country of domicile [member] | Switzerland | Pension plans [member] | Pensioners [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 16 | 17
Country of domicile [member] | Switzerland | Pension plans [member] | Unfunded plans [member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 47 | 49
Country of domicile [member] | Switzerland | Pension plans [member] | Unfunded portion of funded plans [member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 65 | 46
Foreign countries [member] | United States | Pension plans [member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 127 | 111
Fair value of plan assets | 80 | 67
Funded status | (47) | (44)
Foreign countries [member] | United States | Pension plans [member] | Active [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 40 | 36
Foreign countries [member] | United States | Pension plans [member] | Deferred pensioners [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 46 | 32
Foreign countries [member] | United States | Pension plans [member] | Pensioners [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 41 | 43
Foreign countries [member] | United States | Pension plans [member] | Unfunded plans [member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 29 | 21
Foreign countries [member] | United States | Pension plans [member] | Unfunded portion of funded plans [member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 18 | 23
Foreign countries [member] | United Kingdom | Pension plans [member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 109 | 94
Fair value of plan assets | 17 | 16
Funded status | (92) | (78)
Foreign countries [member] | United Kingdom | Pension plans [member] | Active [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 61 | 56
Foreign countries [member] | United Kingdom | Pension plans [member] | Deferred pensioners [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 27 | 22
Foreign countries [member] | United Kingdom | Pension plans [member] | Pensioners [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 21 | 16
Foreign countries [member] | United Kingdom | Pension plans [member] | Unfunded plans [member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 0 | 0
Foreign countries [member] | United Kingdom | Pension plans [member] | Unfunded portion of funded plans [member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 92 | 78
Foreign countries [member] | Germany | Pension plans [member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 98 | 86
Fair value of plan assets | 109 | 98
Funded status | 11 | 12
Foreign countries [member] | Germany | Pension plans [member] | Active [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 0 | 0
Foreign countries [member] | Germany | Pension plans [member] | Deferred pensioners [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 54 | 69
Foreign countries [member] | Germany | Pension plans [member] | Pensioners [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 44 | 17
Foreign countries [member] | Germany | Pension plans [member] | Unfunded plans [member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 0 | 0
Foreign countries [member] | Germany | Pension plans [member] | Unfunded portion of funded plans [member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 0 | 0
Foreign countries [member] | Rest of the world | Pension plans [member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 145 | 170
Fair value of plan assets | 113 | 137
Funded status | (32) | (33)
Foreign countries [member] | Rest of the world | Pension plans [member] | Active [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 123 | 148
Foreign countries [member] | Rest of the world | Pension plans [member] | Deferred pensioners [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 12 | 9
Foreign countries [member] | Rest of the world | Pension plans [member] | Pensioners [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 10 | 13
Foreign countries [member] | Rest of the world | Pension plans [member] | Unfunded plans [member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | 23 | 18
Foreign countries [member] | Rest of the world | Pension plans [member] | Unfunded portion of funded plans [member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Benefit obligation | $ 17 | $ 19

X
- Definition Defined Benefit Obligation, Prepaid Benefit Costs + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | alc_DefinedBenefitObligationPrepaidBenefitCosts
Namespace Prefix: | alc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The present value, without deducting any plan assets, of expected future payments required to settle the obligation resulting from employee service in the current and prior periods. [Refer: Plan assets, at fair value] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 57 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=19&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_57_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DefinedBenefitObligationAtPresentValue
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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

X
- Definition The fair value of defined benefit plan assets. Plan assets comprise assets held by a long-term employee benefit fund and qualifying insurance policies. [Refer: At fair value [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 57 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=19&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_57_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_PlanAssetsAtFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The fair value of any plan assets, less the present value of the defined benefit obligation. [Refer: Plan assets [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 57 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=19&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_57_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_SurplusDeficitInPlan
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_CharacteristicsOfDefinedBenefitPlansAxis=ifrs-full_PensionDefinedBenefitPlansMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | alc_DefinedBenefitPlanTypeOfMemberAxis=alc_DefinedBenefitPlanActiveMemberMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | alc_DefinedBenefitPlanTypeOfMemberAxis=alc_DefinedBenefitPlanDeferredPensionersMemberMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | alc_DefinedBenefitPlanTypeOfMemberAxis=alc_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionersMemberMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_FundingArrangementsOfDefinedBenefitPlansAxis=ifrs-full_WhollyUnfundedDefinedBenefitPlansMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_FundingArrangementsOfDefinedBenefitPlansAxis=ifrs-full_WhollyOrPartlyFundedDefinedBenefitPlansMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_GeographicalAreasAxis=ifrs-full_CountryOfDomicileMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_CH
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_GeographicalAreasAxis=ifrs-full_ForeignCountriesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_US
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_DE
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_GB
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=alc_OtherCountriesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |