Basis of Presentation (Policies)	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Basis of Presentation [Abstract]
FASB ASC Subtopic 715-20	Recently adopted accounting pronouncements. Lorillard adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Subtopic 715-20 “Employers’ Disclosures about Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets.” ASC Subtopic 715-20 requires disclosure of investment policies and strategies in narrative form. ASC Subtopic 715-20 also requires employer disclosure on the fair value of plan assets, including (a) the level in the fair value hierarchy, (b) a reconciliation of beginning and ending fair value balances for Level 3 assets and (c) information on inputs and valuation techniques. ASC Subtopic 715-20 was effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2009.
FASB ASC Topic 808	Lorillard adopted FASB ASC Topic 808 “Collaborative Arrangements.” ASC 808 defines a collaborative arrangement as an arrangement where the parties are active participants and have exposure to significant risks. Transactions with third parties should be classified in the financial statements in the appropriate category according to ASC Subtopic 605-45 “Principal Agent Considerations.” Payments between the partners of the collaborative agreement should be categorized based on the terms of the agreement, business operations and authoritative literature. ASC 808 was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The adoption of ASC 808 did not have a material impact on Lorillard’s financial position or results of operations.
FASB ASC Section 815-10-50	Lorillard adopted FASB ASC Section 815-10-50 “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities — an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133.” ASC 815-10-50 requires qualitative disclosures about the objectives and strategies for using derivatives; quantitative data about the fair value of, and gains and losses on, derivative contracts; and details of credit-risk-related contingent features in hedged positions. ASC 815-10-50 also requires enhanced disclosure around derivative instruments in financial statements accounted for under ASC Subtopic 815-20, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” and how hedges affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance and cash flows. ASC 815-10-50 was effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. Lorillard adopted ASC 815-10-50 in September 2009. See Note 10 for related disclosure.
FASB ASC Section 820-10-35	Lorillard adopted FASB ASC Section 820-10-35 “Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly.” ASC 820-10-35 includes factors for evaluating if a market has a significant decrease in the volume and level of activity. If there has been a decrease, then the entity must do further analysis of the transactions or quoted prices to determine if the transactions were orderly. The entity cannot ignore available information and should apply appropriate risk adjustments in the fair value calculation. The effective date was for interim periods ending after June 15, 2009. The adoption of ASC 820-10-35 did not have a material impact on Lorillard’s financial position or results of operations.
FASB ASC Section 825-10-65	Lorillard adopted FASB ASC Section 825-10-65 “Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments.” ASC 825-10-65 requires interim disclosures on the fair value of financial instruments. The effective date was for interim periods ending after June 15, 2009. The adoption of ASC 825-10-65 was reflected in our interim financial statements beginning with the second quarter of 2009.
FASB ASU 2010-09	Lorillard adopted FASB ASU 2010-09 “Subsequent Events (Topic 855): Amendments to Certain Recognition and Disclosure Requirements.” ASU 2010-09 amends Topic 855 for SEC filers to eliminate the disclosure of the date through which subsequent events have been reviewed. The effective date was February 24, 2010. ASU 2010-09 did not have a material impact on Lorillard’s financial position or results of operations.
FASB ASC Topic 855	Lorillard adopted FASB ASC Topic 855 “Subsequent Events,” which sets forth (1) the period after the balance sheet date during which management of a reporting entity shall evaluate events or transactions that may occur for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements, (2) the circumstances under which an entity shall recognize events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date in its financial statements and (3) the disclosures that an entity shall make about events or transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date. ASC 855 applies to the accounting for and disclosure of subsequent events not addressed in other applicable generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). ASC 855 was effective for financial statements issued for interim periods and fiscal years ending after June 15, 2009. The adoption of ASC 855 did not have a material impact on Lorillard’s financial position or results of operations.
FASB ASU 2009-05	Lorillard adopted FASB Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2009-05 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820): Measuring Liabilities at Fair Value.” Fair value of liabilities is defined as a price in an orderly transaction between market participants, but often liabilities are not transferred in the market due to significant restrictions. If a quoted price in an active market is available, it should be used and disclosed as a Level 1 valuation. When that is not available, an entity can use either a) the quoted price of an identical liability when traded as an asset in an active or inactive market, b) the quoted price for similar liabilities traded as assets in an active market or c) a valuation technique, such as the income or present value approaches. No adjustments should be made for the existence of contractual restrictions that prevent transfer. The update was effective for the first period after the issue date of August 2009. ASU 2009-05 did not have a material impact on Lorillard’s financial position or results of operations.
FASB ASU 2010-06	Lorillard adopted FASB ASU 2010-06 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820): Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements.” ASU 2010-06 establishes additional disclosures related to fair value. Transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 and the reasons for the transfers must be disclosed. Level 3 purchases, sales, issuances and settlements should be presented separately rather than net. In addition, the level of disaggregation and input and valuation techniques need to be disclosed. The effective dates are periods beginning after December 15, 2010 for the Level 3 purchases, sales, issuances and settlements disclosure, and periods beginning after December 15, 2009 for all other provisions. ASU 2010-06 did not have a material impact on Lorillard’s financial position or results of operations.

Basis of Presentation (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Recently adopted accounting pronouncements. Lorillard adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Subtopic 715-20 “Employers’ Disclosures about Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets.” ASC Subtopic 715-20 requires disclosure of investment policies and strategies in narrative form. ASC Subtopic 715-20 also requires employer disclosure on the fair value of plan assets, including (a) the level in the fair value hierarchy, (b) a reconciliation of beginning and ending fair value balances for Level 3 assets and (c) information on inputs and valuation techniques. ASC Subtopic 715-20 was effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2009.

FASB ASC Topic 808

Lorillard adopted FASB ASC Topic 808 “Collaborative Arrangements.” ASC 808 defines a collaborative arrangement as an arrangement where the parties are active participants and have exposure to significant risks. Transactions with third parties should be classified in the financial statements in the appropriate category according to ASC Subtopic 605-45 “Principal Agent Considerations.” Payments between the partners of the collaborative agreement should be categorized based on the terms of the agreement, business operations and authoritative literature. ASC 808 was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The adoption of ASC 808 did not have a material impact on Lorillard’s financial position or results of operations.

FASB ASC Section 815-10-50

Lorillard adopted FASB ASC Section 815-10-50 “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities — an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133.” ASC 815-10-50 requires qualitative disclosures about the objectives and strategies for using derivatives; quantitative data about the fair value of, and gains and losses on, derivative contracts; and details of credit-risk-related contingent features in hedged positions. ASC 815-10-50 also requires enhanced disclosure around derivative instruments in financial statements accounted for under ASC Subtopic 815-20, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” and how hedges affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance and cash flows. ASC 815-10-50 was effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. Lorillard adopted ASC 815-10-50 in September 2009. See Note 10 for related disclosure.

FASB ASC Section 820-10-35

Lorillard adopted FASB ASC Section 820-10-35 “Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly.” ASC 820-10-35 includes factors for evaluating if a market has a significant decrease in the volume and level of activity. If there has been a decrease, then the entity must do further analysis of the transactions or quoted prices to determine if the transactions were orderly. The entity cannot ignore available information and should apply appropriate risk adjustments in the fair value calculation. The effective date was for interim periods ending after June 15, 2009. The adoption of ASC 820-10-35 did not have a material impact on Lorillard’s financial position or results of operations.

FASB ASC Section 825-10-65

Lorillard adopted FASB ASC Section 825-10-65 “Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments.” ASC 825-10-65 requires interim disclosures on the fair value of financial instruments. The effective date was for interim periods ending after June 15, 2009. The adoption of ASC 825-10-65 was reflected in our interim financial statements beginning with the second quarter of 2009.

FASB ASU 2010-09

Lorillard adopted FASB ASU 2010-09 “Subsequent Events (Topic 855): Amendments to Certain Recognition and Disclosure Requirements.” ASU 2010-09 amends Topic 855 for SEC filers to eliminate the disclosure of the date through which subsequent events have been reviewed. The effective date was February 24, 2010. ASU 2010-09 did not have a material impact on Lorillard’s financial position or results of operations.

FASB ASC Topic 855

Lorillard adopted FASB ASC Topic 855 “Subsequent Events,” which sets forth (1) the period after the balance sheet date during which management of a reporting entity shall evaluate events or transactions that may occur for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements, (2) the circumstances under which an entity shall recognize events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date in its financial statements and (3) the disclosures that an entity shall make about events or transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date. ASC 855 applies to the accounting for and disclosure of subsequent events not addressed in other applicable generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). ASC 855 was effective for financial statements issued for interim periods and fiscal years ending after June 15, 2009. The adoption of ASC 855 did not have a material impact on Lorillard’s financial position or results of operations.

FASB ASU 2009-05

Lorillard adopted FASB Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2009-05 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820): Measuring Liabilities at Fair Value.” Fair value of liabilities is defined as a price in an orderly transaction between market participants, but often liabilities are not transferred in the market due to significant restrictions. If a quoted price in an active market is available, it should be used and disclosed as a Level 1 valuation. When that is not available, an entity can use either a) the quoted price of an identical liability when traded as an asset in an active or inactive market, b) the quoted price for similar liabilities traded as assets in an active market or c) a valuation technique, such as the income or present value approaches. No adjustments should be made for the existence of contractual restrictions that prevent transfer. The update was effective for the first period after the issue date of August 2009. ASU 2009-05 did not have a material impact on Lorillard’s financial position or results of operations.

FASB ASU 2010-06

Lorillard adopted FASB ASU 2010-06 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820): Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements.” ASU 2010-06 establishes additional disclosures related to fair value. Transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 and the reasons for the transfers must be disclosed. Level 3 purchases, sales, issuances and settlements should be presented separately rather than net. In addition, the level of disaggregation and input and valuation techniques need to be disclosed. The effective dates are periods beginning after December 15, 2010 for the Level 3 purchases, sales, issuances and settlements disclosure, and periods beginning after December 15, 2009 for all other provisions. ASU 2010-06 did not have a material impact on Lorillard’s financial position or results of operations.