Noncontrolling Interest, Remaining Interest Purchased By Parent

No definition available.

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- Definition

Stock Repurchase Program, Rescinded Authorized Repurchase Amount

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mo_StockRepurchaseProgramRescindedAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount
Namespace Prefix:	mo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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- 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

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- Definition

The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the purchase of noncontrolling interest during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121586364&loc=d3e3213-108585

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- Definition

Amount of stock repurchase plan authorized.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount remaining of a stock repurchase plan authorized.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of subsidiary's or equity method investee's stock owned by parent immediately after all stock transactions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsidiaryOrEquityMethodInvesteeCumulativePercentageOwnershipAfterAllTransactions
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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of shares that have been repurchased during the period and are being held in treasury.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109259400&loc=d3e21463-112644

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120397183&loc=d3e187085-122770

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(29))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

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Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis=mo_July2019ShareRepurchaseProgramMember
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Period Type:

- Details

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- Details

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Background and Basis of Presentation (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended	5 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 29, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Apr. 29, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Jan. 31, 2021	Apr. 30, 2020	Jul. 31, 2019
Subsequent Event [Member]
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Payments to acquire additional interest in subsidiaries			$ 250,000,000
July 2019 Share Repurchase Program [Member]
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Planned share repurchase program							$ 1,000,000,000.0
Stock repurchase program, rescinded authorized repurchase amount						$ 500,000,000
Repurchase of common stock (shares)				0
January 2021 Share Repurchase Program [Member]
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Planned share repurchase program					$ 2,000,000,000.0
Repurchase of common stock (shares)		6,900,000
Stock repurchase program, remaining authorized repurchase amount		$ 1,675,000,000
Helix Innovations LLC [Member]
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by parent		80.00%
Helix Innovations LLC [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest, remaining interest purchased by parent			20.00%
Subsidiary ownership percentage	100.00%