Debt	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt	Debt: At September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, Altria Group, Inc. had no short-term borrowings. Long-term Debt On August 9, 2012, Altria Group, Inc. issued $1.9 billion aggregate principal amount of 2.850% senior unsecured long-term notes due 2022 and $0.9 billion aggregate principal amount of 4.250% senior unsecured long-term notes due 2042. Interest on these notes is payable semi-annually. The net proceeds from the issuances of these senior unsecured notes were added to Altria Group, Inc.'s general funds and were used to repurchase certain of its senior unsecured notes in connection with the tender offer described below, and other general corporate purposes. The notes are Altria Group, Inc.'s senior unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of Altria Group, Inc.'s existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness. Upon the occurrence of both (i) a change of control of Altria Group, Inc. and (ii) the notes ceasing to be rated investment grade by each of Moody's, Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings Ltd. within a specified time period, Altria Group, Inc. will be required to make an offer to purchase the notes at a price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of such notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of repurchase as and to the extent set forth in the terms of the notes. The obligations of Altria Group, Inc. under the notes are guaranteed by PM USA (see Note 12. Condensed Consolidating Financial Information). In July 2012, senior unsecured notes issued by UST in the aggregate principal amount of $600 million matured and were repaid in full. Altria Group, Inc.'s estimate of the fair value of its debt is based on observable market information derived from a third party pricing source and is classified in level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The aggregate fair value of Altria Group, Inc.'s total long-term debt at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, was $18.0 billion and $17.7 billion, respectively, as compared with its carrying value of $13.9 billion and $13.7 billion, respectively for each period. Tender Offer for Altria Group, Inc. Notes During the third quarter of 2012, Altria Group, Inc. completed a tender offer to purchase for cash $2.0 billion aggregate principal amount of certain of its senior unsecured notes. Altria Group, Inc. repurchased $1,151 million aggregate principal amount of its 9.700% notes due 2018, and $849 million aggregate principal amount of its 9.250% notes due 2019. As a result of the tender offer, during the third quarter of 2012, Altria Group, Inc. recorded a pre-tax loss on early extinguishment of debt of $874 million, which included debt tender premiums and fees of $864 million, and the write off of related unamortized debt discounts and debt issuance costs of $10 million.

Debt:

At September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, Altria Group, Inc. had no short-term borrowings.

Long-term Debt

On August 9, 2012, Altria Group, Inc. issued $1.9 billion aggregate principal amount of 2.850% senior unsecured long-term notes due 2022 and $0.9 billion aggregate principal amount of 4.250% senior unsecured long-term notes due 2042. Interest on these notes is payable semi-annually. The net proceeds from the issuances of these senior unsecured notes were added to Altria Group, Inc.'s general funds and were used to repurchase certain of its senior unsecured notes in connection with the tender offer described below, and other general corporate purposes.

The notes are Altria Group, Inc.'s senior unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of Altria Group, Inc.'s existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness. Upon the occurrence of both (i) a change of control of Altria Group, Inc. and (ii) the notes ceasing to be rated investment grade by each of Moody's, Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings Ltd. within a specified time period, Altria Group, Inc. will be required to make an offer to purchase the notes at a price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of such notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of repurchase as and to the extent set forth in the terms of the notes.

The obligations of Altria Group, Inc. under the notes are guaranteed by PM USA (see Note 12. Condensed Consolidating Financial Information).

In July 2012, senior unsecured notes issued by UST in the aggregate principal amount of $600 million matured and were repaid in full.

Altria Group, Inc.'s estimate of the fair value of its debt is based on observable market information derived from a third party pricing source and is classified in level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The aggregate fair value of Altria Group, Inc.'s total long-term debt at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, was $18.0 billion and $17.7 billion, respectively, as compared with its carrying value of $13.9 billion and $13.7 billion, respectively for each period.

Tender Offer for Altria Group, Inc. Notes

During the third quarter of 2012, Altria Group, Inc. completed a tender offer to purchase for cash $2.0 billion aggregate principal amount of certain of its senior unsecured notes. Altria Group, Inc. repurchased $1,151 million aggregate principal amount of its 9.700% notes due 2018, and $849 million aggregate principal amount of its 9.250% notes due 2019. As a result of the tender offer, during the third quarter of 2012, Altria Group, Inc. recorded a pre-tax loss on early extinguishment of debt of $874 million, which included debt tender premiums and fees of $864 million, and the write off of related unamortized debt discounts and debt issuance costs of $10 million.