Contingencies (Non-Engle Progeny Cases Trial Results Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended					6 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 01, 2012 California/Bullock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 California/Bullock [Member]	Feb. 16, 2012 Oregon Schwarz [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Individual Smoking And Health Cases [Member] California/Boeken [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Individual Smoking And Health Cases [Member] California/Bullock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Individual Smoking And Health Cases [Member] California/Bullock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2002 Individual Smoking And Health Cases [Member] California/Bullock [Member]	Oct. 31, 2002 Individual Smoking And Health Cases [Member] California/Bullock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Individual Smoking And Health Cases [Member] Oregon Schwarz [Member]	Jan. 31, 2012 Individual Smoking And Health Cases [Member] Oregon Williams [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Individual Smoking And Health Cases [Member] Oregon Williams [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Oregon Williams [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, period of occurrence				August 2011	October 2002				March 2002		March of 1999
Compensatory damages jury award total excluding interest								$ 850,000	$ 168,500		$ 800,000
Compensatory damages jury award allocation amount				12,800,000
Loss contingency, court reduction date									May 2002
Punitive damages reduced award total							28,000,000		100,000,000
Date of Court Award of Costs to Defendant									December 2010
Court ordered costs returned to defendant									500,000
Punitive damages jury award allocation amount								28,000,000,000	150,000,000		79,500,000
Loss contingency, reversal of judgment date					2008
Appeal bond posted by PM USA				12,800,000
Loss contingency, damages recorded		14,000,000										48,000,000
Loss contingency, interest accrued		3,000,000										54,000,000
Loss contingency, appeal bond date				November 2011
Judgment costs and interest paid	19,100,000									102,000,000
Punitive damages judgment award total			25,000,000			13,800,000
Loss Contingency, Damages Paid Date											2009
Loss contingency, damages paid											61,100,000
Medical expenses awarded											$ 21,500
Percentage of punitive damages paid to the plaintiff											40.00%