Debt Instrument, Consolidated EBITDA to Interest Expense Ratio

No definition available.

Name:	mo_DebtInstrumentConsolidatedEBITDAtoInterestExpenseRatio
Namespace Prefix:	mo_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Covenant, Consolidated EBITDA to Interest Expense Ratio, Minimum

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mo_DebtInstrumentCovenantConsolidatedEBITDAtoInterestExpenseRatioMinimum
Namespace Prefix:	mo_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Duration Fee percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mo_DebtInstrumentDurationFeepercentage
Namespace Prefix:	mo_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Extension Term

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mo_DebtInstrumentExtensionTerm
Namespace Prefix:	mo_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Number of Extensions

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mo_DebtInstrumentNumberofExtensions
Namespace Prefix:	mo_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Due In Next Year And In Second Year

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mo_DueInNextYearAndInSecondYear
Namespace Prefix:	mo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775744&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775985&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The average effective interest rate during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775744&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period of time between issuance and maturity of debt instrument, in PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after accumulated amortization, of debt issuance costs classified as current. Includes, but is not limited to, legal, accounting, underwriting, printing, and registration costs.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsCurrentNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of [accrued] interest payable on all forms of debt, including trade payables, that has been incurred and is unpaid. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 9
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82887183&loc=d3e7018-107765

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82887183&loc=d3e6935-107765

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.20)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestPayableCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Minimum amount of other commitment maturing in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year for commitments not otherwise specified in the taxonomy. Excludes commitments explicitly modeled in this taxonomy, including but not limited to, long-term and short-term purchase commitments, recorded and unrecorded purchase obligations, supply commitments, registration payment arrangements, leases, debt, product warranties, guarantees, environmental remediation obligations, and pensions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherCommitmentDueInNextTwelveMonths
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Minimum amount of other commitment maturing in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year for commitments not otherwise specified in the taxonomy. Excludes commitments explicitly modeled in this taxonomy, including but not limited to, long-term and short-term purchase commitments, recorded and unrecorded purchase obligations, supply commitments, registration payment arrangements, leases, debt, product warranties, guarantees, environmental remediation obligations, and pensions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherCommitmentDueInSecondYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Reflects the total carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of debt having initial terms less than one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(19)(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16)(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(13))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=mo_TermLoanAgreementJUULMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=mo_TermLoanAgreementCronosMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=mo_BorrowingsAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=mo_RevolvingCreditFacilityDueAugust2023Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=mo_RevolvingCreditFacilityDueAugust2020Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis=us-gaap_ShortTermDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_NotesPayableOtherPayablesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=mo_TermLoanAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Short-Term Borrowings and Borrowing Arrangements (Details)		12 Months Ended
	Aug. 01, 2018 USD ($) Extension	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 20, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings		$ 12,704,000,000		$ 0
Debt issuance costs		96,000,000
Accrued interest		15,000,000
Debt due by January 31, 2020, total		$ 14,900,000,000
Term Loan Agreement, JUUL [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount			$ 12,800,000,000
Term Loan Agreement, Cronos [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount			$ 1,800,000,000
Duration fee percentage			0.125%
Borrowings Agreement [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt instrument, covenant, consolidated EBITDA to interest expense ratio, minimum		4.0
Debt instrument, consolidated EBITDA to interest expense ratio		14.4
Line of Credit [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility Due August 2023 [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 3,000,000,000
Debt instrument, number of extensions \| Extension	2
Debt instrument, extension term	1 year
Term of debt	5 years
Line of Credit [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility Due August 2023 [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Credit line available under the credit agreement		$ 3,000,000,000
Interest rate for borrowing	1.00%
Line of Credit [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility Due August 2020 [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 3,000,000,000
Term of debt	5 years
Short-term Debt [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt due by December 31, 2019		13,900,000,000
Debt due by January 31, 2020		1,000,000,000
Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member] \| Term Loan Agreement [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings		$ 12,800,000,000
Debt instrument, face amount			$ 14,600,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate during period (approximately)		3.50%
Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member] \| Term Loan Agreement [Member] \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Interest rate for borrowing		1.00%