Contingencies (Certain MSA Disputes) (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	48 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2010 state	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) state	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) state	Sep. 30, 2013 state
2003 NPM Adjustment
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of states agreed to single arbitration		48
Aggregate number of settling states		49
Reduction in NPM adjustment, percent		20.00%	20.00%
Number of settling states with diligent enforcement not contested	16
Combined allocable share, percentage	14.00%
Non-settling states				15
Non-settling states that did not diligently enforce escrow statutes		4	4	6
2003-2012 NPM Adjustment
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Settling states with term sheet		22
Kentucky and Indiana | 2003 NPM Adjustment
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Non-settling states that did not diligently enforce escrow statutes				2
Pennsylvania and Maryland | 2003 NPM Adjustment
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Reduction in NPM adjustment, percent		50.00%	50.00%
Pennsylvania and Maryland | 2004-2010 NPM Adjustment
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of states agreed to single arbitration		2
Liggett and Vector Tobacco | 2004-2010 NPM Adjustment
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Amounts accrued | $		$ 20,000	$ 20,000
Liggett and Vector Tobacco | Cost of Sales | Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, NPM Adjustment
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Settlement adjustment credit | $			21,739
Liggett | 2011-2015 NPM Adjustment
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Amounts accrued | $		$ 28,600	$ 28,600