CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2014
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME [Abstract]
Net Earnings	$ 4,191	$ 4,279	$ 2,031
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Pension/postretirement obligations	(241)	14	(48)
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	3	(13)	(27)
Unrecognized gain (loss) on available-for-sale investments	(257)	152	106
Share of other comprehensive income (loss) of equity method investments	(1)	113	(18)
Currency translation adjustments	(2,338)	(622)	215
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(2,834)	(356)	228
Total Comprehensive Income	1,357	3,923	2,259
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(39)	53	99
Comprehensive Income Attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	$ 1,396	$ 3,870	$ 2,160

Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income and other comprehensive income, attributable to parent entity. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.

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Amount before tax, after reclassification adjustments, of appreciation (loss) in value of unsold available-for-sale securities. Excludes amounts related to other than temporary impairment (OTTI) loss.

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Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments of gain (loss) on foreign currency translation adjustments, foreign currency transactions designated and effective as economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity and intra-entity foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature.

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Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss).

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Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments, of (increase) decrease in accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss related to pension and other postretirement defined benefit plans.

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Amount of tax expense (benefit), before reclassification adjustments, related to increase (decrease) in accumulated gain (loss) from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges and an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gain (loss).

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The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest.

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