XML 122 R63.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.20.4

Selected accounting policies - Schedule of useful lives for property, plant, and equipment (Details) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2020
Bottom of range [member] | Buildings and improvements [member] |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items] |
Useful life | 10 years
Bottom of range [member] | Machinery and equipment [member] |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items] |
Useful life | 5 years
Bottom of range [member] | Furniture and vehicles [member] |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items] |
Useful life | 5 years
Bottom of range [member] | Computer equipment [member] |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items] |
Useful life | 3 years
Top of range [member] | Buildings and improvements [member] |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items] |
Useful life | 40 years
Top of range [member] | Machinery and equipment [member] |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items] |
Useful life | 20 years
Top of range [member] | Furniture and vehicles [member] |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items] |
Useful life | 10 years
Top of range [member] | Computer equipment [member] |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items] |
Useful life | 7 years

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- Definition Useful Lives Or Depreciation Rates, Property, Plant And Equipment, Period + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | alc_UsefulLivesOrDepreciationRatesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | alc_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- 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_DisclosureOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_RangeAxis=ifrs-full_BottomOfRangeMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ClassesOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentAxis=ifrs-full_BuildingsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ClassesOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentAxis=alc_MachineryandEquipmentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ClassesOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentAxis=alc_FurnitureandVehiclesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ClassesOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentAxis=ifrs-full_ComputerEquipmentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_RangeAxis=ifrs-full_TopOfRangeMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |