Contingencies (Class Actions, Health Care Cost Recovery Actions, and Upcoming Trials) (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended							3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017 defendant case	Dec. 31, 2016 case	Jul. 31, 2015 plaintiff case trial	Oct. 31, 2013 case	May 31, 2013 case	May 31, 2009	Jul. 31, 1999 plaintiff	Jun. 30, 2017 defendant case	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) defendant case	Dec. 31, 2001 case
Parsons v. AC & S Inc.
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Damages sought | $									$ 1,000
Number of defendants in bankruptcy | defendant	3							3	3
Department of Justice Lawsuit
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Required reporting period						10 years
Engle Progeny Cases
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of plaintiffs | plaintiff							3
Pending claims scheduled for trial	1							1	1
Individual Actions Cases
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Cases pending	19							19	19
Liggett
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Cases pending	2							2	2
Liggett | Class Actions
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Cases pending	3							3	3
Liggett | Crow Creek Sioux Tribe v. American Tobacco Company
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Cases pending	1							1	1
Liggett | Engle Progeny Cases
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Claims dismissed				4,900
Cases settled	9	124		4,900
Liggett and Vector Tobacco | Engle Progeny Cases
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Cases pending	105							105	105
Cases settled								3	182
West Virginia | Tobacco Litigation Personal Injury Cases
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Cases pending										750
Number of mistrials					2
Claims dismissed					1
Number of plaintiffs			30
Number of consolidated trials | trial			6
Number of plaintiffs in each trial | plaintiff			5
West Virginia | Liggett | Tobacco Litigation Personal Injury Cases
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Cases pending	90							90	90
West Virginia | Liggett | Individual Actions Cases
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Cases pending	2							2	2