Contingencies (Engle Progeny Cases Trial Results - Pending and Concluded) (Details) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2018	Apr. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Feb. 28, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Nov. 30, 2017	Oct. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Aug. 31, 2017	May 31, 2017	Feb. 28, 2017	Nov. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jul. 31, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Apr. 30, 2016	Feb. 29, 2016	Jan. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Nov. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Aug. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	May 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Feb. 28, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Nov. 30, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jul. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	May 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	May 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Aug. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	May 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Nov. 30, 2010	Apr. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Nov. 30, 2009	Jul. 31, 2000
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments made related to litigation			$ 23,000,000		$ 1,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Punitive damages awarded																																																							$ 145,000,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Punitive damages awarded																																																							$ 74,000,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Freeman [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded			4,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Gloger [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded								$ 7,500,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Gloger [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded								5,000,000
Appeal bond posted								2,500,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Bryant [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded									$ 581,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Bryant [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded									225,000
Appeal bond posted			681,000
Engle Progeny Cases, R. Douglas [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded										$ 131,371
Engle Progeny Cases, R. Douglas [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded										$ 5,255
Compensatory damages award, allocation percentage										4.00%
Engle Progeny Cases, Wallace [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded											$ 12,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Wallace [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Appeal bond posted								3,000,000
Punitive damages awarded											$ 16,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, L. Martin [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded														$ 1,100,000
Engle Progeny Cases, L. Martin [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded														$ 605,000
Appeal bond posted													$ 1,900,000
Compensatory damages award, allocation percentage														55.00%
Punitive damages awarded														$ 1,300,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Sommers [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded		$ 1,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Santoro [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded					1,600,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Santoro [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded					$ 450,000
Compensatory damages award, allocation percentage					28.00%
Punitive damages awarded					$ 100,000
Engle Progeny Cases, J. Brown [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded															$ 5,400,000
Engle Progeny Cases, J. Brown [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Appeal bond posted												$ 2,500,000
Punitive damages awarded															200,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Pardue [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded						$ 5,900,000									5,200,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Pardue [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Appeal bond posted		2,500,000
Punitive damages awarded						6,750,000
Engle Progeny Cases, S. Martin [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																$ 5,400,000
Engle Progeny Cases, S. Martin [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																$ 2,480,000
Appeal bond posted															$ 2,900,000
Compensatory damages award, allocation percentage																46.00%
Punitive damages awarded																$ 450,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Howles [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																4,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Howles [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																$ 2,000,000
Compensatory damages award, allocation percentage																50.00%
Punitive damages awarded																$ 3,000,000
Provision for judgment plus interest and associated costs			6,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Oshinsky-Blacker [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																	$ 6,155,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Oshinsky-Blacker [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																	$ 3,700,000
Compensatory damages award, allocation percentage																	60.00%
Punitive damages awarded																	$ 1,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Sermons [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																		$ 65,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Sermons [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																		$ 9,750
Compensatory damages award, allocation percentage																		15.00%
Punitive damages awarded																		$ 51,225
Engle Progeny Cases, Purdo [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																				$ 21,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Purdo [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																				$ 2,520,000
Appeal bond posted																			$ 1,500,000
Compensatory damages award, allocation percentage																				12.00%
Punitive damages awarded																				$ 6,250,000
Provision for judgment plus interest and associated costs			10,000,000
Litigation escrow deposit, increase			3,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, McCall [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded							$ 350,000
Engle Progeny Cases, McCall [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded							$ 87,500
Compensatory damages award, allocation percentage							25.00%
Engle Progeny Cases, Ahrens [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																					$ 9,000,000
Appeal bond posted																				$ 2,500,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Ahrens [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Punitive damages awarded																					2,500,000
Provision for judgment plus interest and associated costs									7,000,000
Litigation escrow deposit, increase								5,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Ledoux [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																							$ 10,000,000
Appeal bond posted							$ 2,500,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Ledoux [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Punitive damages awarded																							$ 12,500,000
Provision for judgment plus interest and associated costs									20,000,000
Litigation escrow deposit, increase								5,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Barbose [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																								$ 10,000,000
Appeal bond posted																					2,500,000
Punitive damages awarded																								500,000
Provision for judgment plus interest and associated costs									12,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Barbose [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation escrow deposit, increase								8,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Tognoli [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																								1,050,000
Appeal bond posted			157,500
Engle Progeny Cases, Tognoli [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																								$ 157,500
Compensatory damages award, allocation percentage																								15.00%
Provision for judgment plus interest and associated costs									1,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Danielson [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																								$ 325,000
Punitive damages awarded																								325,000
Economic damages sought																								2,300,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Duignan [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																										$ 6,000,000
Appeal bond posted																								$ 2,700,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Duignan [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Punitive damages awarded																										3,500,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Cooper [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																										4,500,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Cooper [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																					$ 300,000					$ 450,000
Appeal bond posted							300,000
Compensatory damages award, allocation percentage																										10.00%
Engle Progeny Cases, Jordan [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																											$ 7,800,000
Punitive damages awarded																											3,200,000
Reduced compensatory awards																											$ 6,400,000
Engle Progeny Cases, McCoy [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																												$ 1,500,000
Engle Progeny Cases, McCoy [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																												$ 300,000
Appeal bond posted																						$ 1,650,000
Compensatory damages award, allocation percentage																												20.00%
Punitive damages awarded																												$ 3,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, M. Brown [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																														$ 6,375,000
Appeal bond posted																														$ 5,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Gore [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																															$ 2,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Gore [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Appeal bond posted																									$ 460,000
Provision for judgment plus interest and associated costs			1,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Pollari [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																															10,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Pollari [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																															$ 4,250,000
Appeal bond posted																						2,500,000
Compensatory damages award, allocation percentage																															42.50%
Punitive damages awarded																															$ 1,500,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Caprio [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Economic damages awarded																																$ 559,172
Engle Progeny Cases, Caprio [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages award, allocation percentage																																25.00%
Engle Progeny Cases, McKeever [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																																$ 5,800,000
Appeal bond posted																													$ 5,000,000
Punitive damages awarded																																11,630,000
Provision for judgment plus interest and associated costs									$ 20,000,000
Litigation escrow deposit, increase								10,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, D. Brown [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																																	$ 8,300,000
Punitive damages awarded																																	$ 9,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Allen [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																																		$ 3,100,000																$ 6,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Allen [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Appeal bond posted																										$ 2,500,000
Punitive damages awarded																																		7,760,000																$ 17,000,000
Provision for judgment plus interest and associated costs			10,000,000
Litigation escrow deposit, increase			5,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Perrotto [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																																		4,100,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Perrotto [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																																		$ 1,020,000
Compensatory damages award, allocation percentage																																		25.00%
Engle Progeny Cases, Boatright [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																																		$ 15,000,000
Punitive damages awarded against co-defendant																																		300,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Boatright [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																																		$ 12,750,000
Appeal bond posted																																3,980,000
Compensatory damages award, allocation percentage																																		85.00%
Punitive damages awarded																																		$ 19,700,000
Litigation escrow deposit, increase								$ 11,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Kerrivan [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																																			$ 15,800,000
Punitive damages awarded																																			25,300,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Kerrivan [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Punitive damages awarded																																			15,700,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Berger [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																																				$ 6,250,000
Compensatory damages award, allocation percentage																																				60.00%
Punitive damages awarded																																				$ 20,760,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Harris [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																																					$ 1,730,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Griffin [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																																						$ 1,270,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Griffin [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																																						$ 630,000
Appeal bond posted																																			640,543
Compensatory damages award, allocation percentage																																						50.00%
Provision related to litigation recorded				$ 1,100,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Burkhart [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																																							$ 5,000,000
Punitive damages awarded																																							2,500,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Burkhart [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Punitive damages awarded																																							$ 750,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Skolnick [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																																											$ 2,555,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Skolnick [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																																											$ 766,500
Appeal bond posted																																								$ 766,500
Compensatory damages award, allocation percentage																																											30.00%
Engle Progeny Cases, Searcy [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																																										$ 1,000,000			$ 6,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Searcy [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Appeal bond posted																																								$ 2,200,000
Punitive damages awarded																																										$ 1,670,000			$ 10,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Calloway [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																																															$ 16,100,000		$ 21,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Calloway [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																						$ 4,025,000
Appeal bond posted																																														$ 1,500,000
Punitive damages awarded																																																	17,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Calloway [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | R.J. Reynolds [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Punitive damages awarded against co-defendant																																																	17,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Calloway [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | Lorillard [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Punitive damages awarded against co-defendant																																																	13,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Calloway [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | Liggett Group [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Punitive damages awarded against co-defendant																																																	$ 8,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Putney [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded														$ 225,000																																						$ 15,100,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Putney [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																																																				$ 2,300,000
Appeal bond posted																																																			$ 1,600,000
Compensatory damages award, allocation percentage																																																				15.00%
Punitive damages awarded																																											$ 2,500,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Starr-Blundell [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																																											500,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Starr-Blundell [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																																											$ 50,000
Compensatory damages award, allocation percentage																																											10.00%
Provision for judgment plus interest and associated costs			40,000
Provision related to litigation recorded							$ 55,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Starr-Blundell [Member] | Settled Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments made related to litigation			100,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Zamboni [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																																340,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Zamboni [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																																$ 34,000
Compensatory damages award, allocation percentage																																10.00%
Provision related to litigation recorded			$ 34,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Graham [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																																												$ 2,750,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Graham [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																																												$ 275,000
Appeal bond posted																																									$ 277,750
Compensatory damages award, allocation percentage																																												10.00%
Provision related to litigation recorded				500,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Graham [Member] | Settled Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments made related to litigation	$ 1,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Naugle [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																																									3,700,000							$ 12,300,000					$ 13,000,000	$ 56,600,000
Punitive damages awarded																																									$ 7,500,000							$ 24,500,000					$ 26,000,000	$ 244,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Naugle [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Appeal bond posted																																																				$ 5,000,000
Compensatory damages award, allocation percentage																																																						90.00%
Litigation escrow deposit, increase				6,200,000
Provision related to litigation recorded				13,200,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Naugle [Member] | Settled Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments made related to litigation	13,500,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Lourie [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																																			1,370,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Lourie [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																																			$ 370,000
Appeal bond posted																																		$ 370,318
Compensatory damages award, allocation percentage																																			27.00%
Provision related to litigation recorded				$ 2,300,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Lourie [Member] | Settled Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments made related to litigation	2,500,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Marchese [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																									1,000,000
Punitive damages awarded																									250,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Marchese [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																									$ 225,000
Appeal bond posted																			$ 475,000
Compensatory damages award, allocation percentage																									22.50%
Engle Progeny Cases, Marchese [Member] | Settled Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments made related to litigation	$ 1,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Merino [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded																												8,000,000
Appeal bond posted						14,500,000																				$ 5,000,000
Punitive damages awarded																												$ 6,500,000
Provision related to litigation recorded						$ 16,900,000
Engle Progeny Cases, Merino [Member] | Settled Litigation [Member] | PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments made related to litigation		$ 17,400,000