Exit and disposal activities (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2022

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

Restructuring costs and reserves

Costs related to exit and disposal activities under the Transformational Cost Management Program for fiscal 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively, were as follows (in millions):

Fiscal 2022	U.S. Retail Pharmacy		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Lease obligations and other real estate costs	$	247	$	2	$	—	$	249
Asset impairments	132		58		—		190
Employee severance and business transition costs	156		29		25		210
Information technology transformation and other exit costs	12		29		—		40
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	$	546	$	118	$	25	$	690

Fiscal 2021	U.S. Retail Pharmacy		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Lease obligations and other real estate costs	$	103	$	6	$	—	$	108
Asset impairments	15		9		—		24
Employee severance and business transition costs	79		40		45		165
Information technology transformation and other exit costs	20		17		—		38
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	$	217	$	72	$	46	$	335

Fiscal 2020	U.S. Retail Pharmacy		International		Corporate and Other		Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Lease obligations and other real estate costs	$	191	$	9	$	14	$	215
Asset impairments	51		19		2		72
Employee severance and business transition costs	132		93		45		270
Information technology transformation and other exit costs	70		42		(4)		108
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	$	444	$	163	$	58	$	665

Schedule of restructuring reserve by type of cost

The changes in liabilities and assets related to the exit and disposal activities under Transformational Cost Management Program include the following (in millions):

	Lease obligations and other real estate costs		Asset impairments		Employee severance and business transition costs		Information technology transformation and other exit costs		Total
Balance at August 31, 2020	$	19	$	—	$	166	$	14	$	199
Costs	108		24		165		38		335
Payments	(69)		—		(252)		(31)		(351)
Other	(42)		(24)		(2)		(1)		(69)
Balance at August 31, 2021	$	17	$	—	$	77	$	20	$	114
Costs	249		190		210		40		690
Payments	(99)		—		(201)		(23)		(323)
Other	(157)		(190)		(9)		(11)		(367)
Balance at August 31, 2022	$	10	$	—	$	76	$	27	$	113