Contingencies (Cautionary Statement About Engle Progeny Cases) (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) case	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) case	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) case	Oct. 31, 2013 USD ($) case	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) case
Engle Progeny Cases
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Cases with judgments (more than)	130				130
Liggett | Engle Progeny Cases
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Cases with verdicts	25				25
Cases with verdicts in favor of plaintiffs	16				16
Cases with verdicts in favor of defendants	9				9
Cases with verdicts in favor of plaintiffs and punitive damages awarded	5				5
Cases settled	20	9	124	4,900
Amount of litigation settlement awarded to other party | $	$ 4,100	$ 1,400	$ 17,650	$ 110,000
Liggett | Irimi and Cohen [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Cases with verdicts where defendants motion for new trial granted	2				2
Liggett and Vector Tobacco | Engle Progeny Cases
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Cases settled					182
Amount of litigation settlement awarded to other party | $					$ 6,300