Contingencies (Lights/Ultra Lights Cases) (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended								3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended		10 Months Ended	95 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2016 USD ($)	May 31, 2016 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Feb. 29, 2016 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2014 $ / plantiff	Nov. 30, 2010 case jurisdiction	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 case	Oct. 24, 2016 case state	Oct. 26, 2015 case	Oct. 27, 2014 case	Apr. 30, 2012 case	Mar. 31, 2003 USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments made related to litigation									$ 0		$ 3,000	$ 145,000	$ 13,000
Lights [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Claims not certified, number | case															21
Lights [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Claims not certified, number | case								4										4
Number of jurisdictions selected by plaintiffs | case								2
Number of jurisdictions selected by defendants | jurisdiction								2
Number of claims dismissed | case														13
Lights [Member] | PM USA [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of claims filed | case															26
Number of states in which claims filed | state															15
Claims not certified, dismissed, reversed, resolved, number | case															20
Lights Ultra Lights Class Actions [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of cases pending | case																12	13
Lights Ultra Lights Class Actions [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of cases pending | case															9
Lights Ultra Lights Class Actions [Member] | PM USA [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of cases set for trial | case															0
Aspinall [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement, amount	$ (15,300)			$ 32,000	$ 4,900
Payments made related to litigation			$ 32,000
Legal Fees	$ 16,500
Aspinall [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Damages sought per class member | $ / plantiff							25
Provision related to litigation recorded										$ 32,000
Miner [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement, amount		$ (45,000)
Provision related to litigation recorded									$ 45,000
Lights Ultra Lights Class Actions, Price [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																			$ 7,100,000
Punitive damages awarded																			$ 3,000,000
Damages awarded, value						$ 10,100,000
Settled Litigation [Member] | Pearson Case, Oregon [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement, amount				$ (30)