ALTRIA GROUP, INC. - 10-Q filing on 2016-10-27

Contingencies (Engle Class Action And Engle Progeny Trial Results Narrative) (Details)		1 Months Ended						3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	145 Months Ended
	Oct. 24, 2016 USD ($) case	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2015 case	Jun. 30, 2009 USD ($) case	Feb. 29, 2008 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2006 USD ($) plantiff	May 31, 2001 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($) case	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2008 court	Oct. 24, 2016 USD ($) case	Jun. 30, 2014 case	Mar. 31, 2014 case	Jul. 31, 2000 USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments made related to litigation \| $								$ 0	$ 3,000,000		$ 145,000,000	$ 13,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Punitive damages awarded \| $																	$ 145,000,000,000
Number of cases with petitions for writ of certiorari																8
Number of cases with petitions for writ of certiorari denied															11
Engle Progeny Cases [Member] \| Florida [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of district courts with rulings \| court													3
Number of rulings certified by trial court for interlocutory review \| court													2
Engle Progeny Cases [Member] \| PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Punitive damages awarded \| $																	$ 74,000,000,000
Amounts placed in escrow \| $							$ 500,000,000
Period for members of decertified class to file individual actions against defendants						1 year
Number of cases with petitions for writ of certiorari																1
Engle Progeny Cases [Member] \| PM USA [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of cases pending	3													3
Number of verdicts returned	102
Number of unfavorable verdicts	56
Number of favorable verdicts	43
Federal Engle Progeny Cases [Member] \| PM USA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Amounts placed in escrow \| $		$ 43,000,000
Number of claims resolved			415							415
Pre-tax charges \| $										$ 43,000,000
Federal Engle Progeny Cases [Member] \| PM USA [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Amounts placed in escrow \| $														$ 43,000,000
Number of cases pending	14													14
Number of favorable verdicts	9
Engle Progeny Cases, State [Member] \| Florida [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Florida bond cap \| $				$ 200,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, State [Member] \| Alachua County, Florida [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of cases in which plaintiffs that challenged constitutionality of bond cap statute				3
Engle Progeny Cases, State [Member] \| Escambia County, Florida [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of cases in which plaintiffs that challenged constitutionality of bond cap statute				1
Engle Progeny Cases, State [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of cases pending	2,700													2,700
Number of plaintiffs	3,600
Engle Progeny Cases, State [Member] \| PM USA [Member] \| Florida [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Compensatory damages awarded \| $						$ 6,900,000
Number of individual plaintiffs reinstated \| plantiff						2
Payments made related to litigation \| $					$ 3,000,000
Engle Progeny Cases, State [Member] \| PM USA [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of favorable verdicts	34
Engle Progeny Cases, Reider and Banks [Member] \| PM USA [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Damages awarded, value \| $	$ 0
Engle Progeny Cases, Weingart and Hancock [Member] \| PM USA [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Damages awarded, value \| $	$ 0