Commitments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Rental expense for operating leases	$ 5	$ 4	$ 5
Lorillard Tobacco | Machinery and Equipment
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Approximate Contractual purchase obligations between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014	61
Lorillard Tobacco | Leaf Tobacco
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Approximate Contractual purchase obligations between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014	90
Blu eCigs | Inventory
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Approximate Contractual purchase obligations between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014	16
SKYCIG
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Approximate Contractual purchase obligations between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014	$ 0