Contingencies (Engle Class Action And Engle Progeny Trial Results Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		166 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Feb. 29, 2008 Smoking And Health Class Actions And Aggregated Claims Litigation [Member] Florida/Engle [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Smoking And Health Class Actions And Aggregated Claims Litigation [Member] Florida/Engle [Member]	Dec. 31, 2001 Smoking And Health Class Actions And Aggregated Claims Litigation [Member] Florida/Engle [Member]	Jul. 31, 2006 Smoking And Health Class Actions And Aggregated Claims Litigation [Member] Florida/Engle [Member]	Oct. 25, 2012 Engle Progeny Cases [Member] Engle Progeny Trial Results [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Engle Progeny Cases [Member] Federal Court [Member]	Oct. 25, 2012 Engle Progeny Cases [Member] Federal Court [Member]	Oct. 25, 2012 Engle Progeny Cases [Member] State Court [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, period of occurrence		July 2000
Punitive damages jury award total all defendants		$ 145,000,000,000
Punitive damages jury award allocation amount PM USA		74,000,000,000
Amounts placed in escrow			500,000,000
Reinstated compensatory damages, award total				6,900,000
Loss contingency, damages paid	3,000,000
Loss Contingency, Damages Paid Date	February 1, 2008
Loss contingency, pending claims							2,000	3,300
Number of plaintiffs							2,000	4,400
Engle progeny plaintiffs with cases stayed pending Eleventh Circuit Court Review						2,000
Active cases pending in federal court						19
Florida bond cap		$ 200,000,000
Number of verdicts returned since Florida Supreme Court Engle decision					33
Number of verdicts returned since Florida Supreme Court Engle decision, in favor of plaintiffs					16
Number of verdicts returned since Florida Supreme Court Engle decision, in favor of defendants					17