Contingencies (General Information Narrative) (Details)	Dec. 31, 2016 state
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Number of states that cap or do not require bond	47

Loss Contingency, Number of States That Cap Bond or Require No Bond

No definition available.

Name:	mo_LossContingencyNumberofStatesThatCapBondorRequireNoBond
Namespace Prefix:	mo_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant