Contingencies (Cautionary Statement About Engle Progeny Cases) (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended				3 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, 2018 case	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) case
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	1
Amount of litigation settlement awarded to other party | $	$ 4,100	$ 1,400	$ 17,650	$ 110,000
Liggett | Irimi and Cohen
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						184
Amount of litigation settlement awarded to other party | $						$ 7,600