Contingencies (Non-Engle Progeny Cases Trial Results) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Interest Accrued In Period	$ 1,000,000	$ 64,000,000	$ 5,000,000
California/Bullock [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss Contingency Damages Recorded Date	fourth quarter of 2011,
Loss Contingency, Loss in Period	14,000,000
Loss Contingency, Interest Accrued In Period	3,000,000
Judgment costs and interest paid	19,100,000
Loss Contingency, Damages Paid Date	March 2012,
Individual Smoking And Health Cases [Member] | California/Boeken [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, period of occurrence	August 2011,
Compensatory damages jury award allocation amount	12,800,000
Appeals bond posted by PM USA	12,800,000
Loss contingency, appeal bond date	November 2011.
Individual Smoking And Health Cases [Member] | Oregon/Schwarz [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, period of occurrence	March 2002,
Compensatory damages jury award total excluding interest	168,500
Punitive damages jury award allocation amount	150,000,000
Punitive Damages Award Date	February 2012
Punitive damages judgment award total	25,000,000
Loss contingency, court reduction date	May 2002,
Punitive damages reduced award total	100,000,000
Date of Court Award of Costs to Defendant	December 2010
Court ordered costs returned to defendant	500,000
Individual Smoking And Health Cases [Member] | Oregon/Williams [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss Contingency Damages Recorded Date	fourth quarter of 2011
Loss Contingency, Loss in Period	48,000,000
Loss Contingency, Interest Accrued In Period	54,000,000
Judgment costs and interest paid	$ 102,000,000
Loss Contingency, Damages Paid Date	January 2012