Contingencies (Other Matters Narrative) (Details)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Lights/Multi District Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of class action certification denied or reversed	4
Lights [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Purported number of class action lawsuits served	24
Additional class action certifications denied, reversed, dismissed or resolved	15

Additional Lights cases outside of the MDL proceeding that have been dismissed, not certified as class actions or ordered de-certified; or judgment entered in favor of PM USA by various courts.

No definition available.

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