Loss Contingency, Number Of Cases

No definition available.

Name:	mo_LossContingencyNumberOfCases
Namespace Prefix:	mo_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reflects the amount charged against earnings comprised of the costs to announce and effect a recall of defective merchandise.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InventoryRecallExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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

+ 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

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualProvision
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=mo_LightsUltraLightsClassActionsAspinallMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=mo_PhilipMorrisUSAMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=mo_SmokeableProductsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=mo_EngleProgenyCasesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=mo_SmokelessProductsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Segment Reporting (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Segment Reporting (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) case	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Aspinall [Member] \| PM USA [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Provision related to litigation recorded			$ 32
Operating Segments [Member] \| Smokeable Products [Member] \| Engle Progeny Cases [Member] \| PM USA [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Engle Progeny Cases \| case	4
Operating Segments [Member] \| Smokeless Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Recall impact on operating income		$ 60
Operating Segments [Member] \| Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member] \| Smokeable Products [Member] \| Engle Progeny Cases [Member] \| PM USA [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Provision related to litigation recorded			26
Operating Segments [Member] \| Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member] \| Smokeable Products [Member] \| Aspinall [Member] \| PM USA [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Provision related to litigation recorded	$ 15
Operating Segments [Member] \| Interest Expense [Member] \| Smokeable Products [Member] \| Engle Progeny Cases [Member] \| PM USA [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Provision related to litigation recorded	$ 2
Operating Segments [Member] \| Interest Expense [Member] \| Smokeable Products [Member] \| Aspinall [Member] \| PM USA [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Provision related to litigation recorded			$ 12