Contingencies Number Of Tobacco Related Cases Pending Against Us And/Or Our Subsidiaries Or Indemnitees (Details)	Aug. 01, 2012 Litigation_Cases	Aug. 01, 2011 Litigation_Cases	Aug. 01, 2010 Litigation_Cases
Individual Smoking And Health Cases [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Cases brought against PM	74	94	116
Smoking And Health Class Actions [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Cases brought against PM	10	10	11
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Cases brought against PM	14	11	10
Public Civil Actions [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Cases brought against PM	3	4	9
ISRAEL [Member] | Lights Class Actions [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Cases brought against PM	2	2	2
ITALY [Member] | Individual Smoking And Health Cases [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Cases brought against PM	5
ITALY [Member] | Individual Lights Cases - Small Claims Court [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Cases brought against PM	7	9	10