Commitments and Contingencies Accrued Interest

No definition available.

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- Details

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- Definition

Pretax charges for tobacco and health related litigation recorded during the period presented

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	mo_
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- Definition

Amount of loss contingency liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349

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- Definition

Amount charged against operating income increasing loss contingency liability, after adjustments to reduce previously estimated charges.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

The amount of cash paid for the settlement of litigation or for other legal issues during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 25

-Subparagraph (g)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3536-108585

+ Details

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Contingencies Contingencies (Judgments Recorded and Paid) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014
Loss Contingencies Judgments Recorded and Paid [Line Items]
Accrued liability for tobacco and health litigation items at beginning of period	$ 39	$ 3
Loss Contingency Accrual, Provision	43us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualProvision	4us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualProvision
Payments for Legal Settlements	(5)us-gaap_PaymentsForLegalSettlements	0us-gaap_PaymentsForLegalSettlements
Accrued liability for tobacco and health litigation items at end of period	77	7
Tobacco and Health Judgment [Member]
Loss Contingencies Judgments Recorded and Paid [Line Items]
Pretax Tobacco and Health charges	0	3
Engle Progeny Cases, Federal [Member]
Loss Contingencies Judgments Recorded and Paid [Line Items]
Loss Contingency Accrual, Provision	43	0
Interest Expense [Member]
Loss Contingencies Judgments Recorded and Paid [Line Items]
Commitments and Contingencies Accrued Interest	0	1
Federal Governments Lawsuit [Member] \| Health Care Cost Recovery Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies Judgments Recorded and Paid [Line Items]
Loss Contingency Accrual, Provision			$ 31