Investments Proportional (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 24, 2011		Sep. 30, 2010		Sep. 25, 2010		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 24, 2011		Sep. 30, 2010		Sep. 25, 2010
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity income in MillerCoors			$ 99.4				$ 135.3				$ 372.4				$ 389.9
MillerCoors
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Net income attributable to MillerCoors	176.4	[1]	176.4		313.0	[1]	313.0		809.8	[1]	809.8		912.8	[1]	912.8
MCBC econimic interest			42.00%				42.00%				42.00%				42.00%
MCBC proportionate share of MillerCoors net income			74.1				131.5				340.1				383.4
Amortization of the difference between MCBC contributed cost basis and proportional share of the underlying equity in the net assets of MillerCoors			27.7	[2]			2.5	[2]			32.6	[2]			4.4	[2]
Share-based compensation adjustment			(2.4)	[3]			1.3	[3]			(0.3)	[3]			2.1	[3]
Equity Method Investment, Difference Between Carrying Amount and Underlying Equity			564								564
Sparks [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
MCBC econimic interest			42.00%								42.00%
Amortization of the difference between MCBC contributed cost basis and proportional share of the underlying equity in the net assets of MillerCoors			25.2	[2]
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived	60.0								60.0
Write Down Relating To MillerCoors Assumption Of liabilities As Part Of Under-funded Multi-employer Pension Plan	$ 50.9												$ 50.9

[1] Results for three months and nine months ended September 30, 2011, include special charges of $60.0 million for a write-down in the value of the Sparks brand and a $50.9 million charge resulting from the planned assumption of the Milwaukee Brewery Worker's Pension Plan, an under-funded multi-employer pension plan.

[2] Our net investment in MillerCoors is based on the carrying values of the net assets contributed to the joint venture which is less than our proportional share of underlying equity (42%) of MillerCoors (contributed by both Coors Brewing Company ("CBC") and Miller Brewing Company ("Miller")) by approximately $564 million as of September 24, 2011. This difference, with the exception of goodwill and land, is being amortized as additional equity income over the remaining useful lives of the contributed long-lived amortizing assets. During the third quarter of 2011, MillerCoors recognized an impairment charge of $60.0 million associated with its Sparks brand intangible asset. Our portion, $25.2 million, or 42% of the charge, is offset by an adjustment to our basis amortization above. This adjustment represents accelerated amortization attributable to our proportionate share of the underlying basis of the asset class in which Sparks was contributed.

[3] The net adjustment is to record all share-based compensation associated with pre-existing equity awards to be settled in Class B common stock held by former CBC employees now employed by MillerCoors and to eliminate all share-based compensation impacts related to pre-existing SABMiller plc equity awards held by former Miller employees now employed by MillerCoors. As of the end of the second quarter of 2011, the share-based awards granted to former CBC employees now employed by MillerCoors became fully vested, as such; no further adjustments will be recorded related to these awards.