Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) 10-K 14 Oct 21 2021 FY Annual report Financial data

Cover Page

Cover Page - USD ($) $ in Billions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2021	Feb. 28, 2021
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Aug. 31, 2021
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--08-31
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-36759
Entity Registrant Name	WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	47-1758322
Entity Address, Address Line One	108 Wilmot Road
Entity Address, City or Town	Deerfield
Entity Address, State or Province	IL
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	60015
City Area Code	847
Local Phone Number	315-3700
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 34.3
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		865,612,358
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Portions of the definitive proxy statement for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders planned to be held on January 27, 2022 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K as indicated herein.
Entity Central Index Key	0001618921
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Common Stock, $0.01 par value
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.01 par value
Trading Symbol	WBA
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
3.600% Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. notes due 2025
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	3.600% Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. notes due 2025
Trading Symbol	WBA25
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
2.125% Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. notes due 2026
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	2.125% Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. notes due 2026
Trading Symbol	WBA26
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,193	$ 469
Accounts receivable, net	5,663	4,110
Inventories	8,159	7,917
Other current assets	800	598
Assets of discontinued operations - current (see Note 2)	0	4,979
Total current assets	15,814	18,073
Non-current assets:
Property, plant and equipment, net	12,247	12,796
Operating lease right-of-use asset	21,893	21,453
Goodwill	12,421	12,013
Intangible assets, net	9,936	10,072
Equity method investments (see Note 6)	6,987	7,204
Other non-current assets	1,987	581
Assets of discontinued operations - non-current (see Note 2)	0	4,983
Total non-current assets	65,471	69,101
Total assets	81,285	87,174
Current liabilities:
Short-term debt	1,305	3,265
Trade accounts payable (see Note 19)	11,136	10,145
Operating lease obligation	2,259	2,358
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	7,260	5,861
Income taxes	94	95
Liabilities of discontinued operations - current (see Note 2)	0	5,347
Total current liabilities	22,054	27,070
Non-current liabilities:
Long-term debt	7,675	12,203
Operating lease obligation	22,153	21,765
Deferred income taxes	1,850	1,367
Other non-current liabilities	3,413	3,222
Liabilities of discontinued operations - non-current (see Note 2)	0	412
Total non-current liabilities	35,091	38,968
Commitments and contingencies (see Note 11)
Total liabilities	57,145	66,038
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	319	0
Equity:
Preferred stock $.01 par value; authorized 32 million shares, none issued	0	0
Common stock $.01 par value; authorized 3.2 billion shares; issued 1,172,513,618 at August 31, 2021 and August 31, 2020	12	12
Paid-in capital	10,988	10,761
Retained earnings	35,121	34,210
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,109)	(3,771)
Treasury stock, at cost; 307,139,982 shares at August 31, 2021 and 306,910,099 shares at August 31, 2020	(20,593)	(20,575)
Total Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. shareholders’ equity	23,419	20,637
Noncontrolling interests	402	498
Total equity	23,822	21,136
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and equity	$ 81,285	$ 87,174

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Pa

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Equity:
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, authorized (in shares)	32,000,000	32,000,000
Preferred stock, issued (in shares)	0	0
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, authorized shares (in shares)	3,200,000,000	3,200,000,000
Common stock, issued (in shares)	1,172,513,618	1,172,513,618
Treasury stock, at cost (in shares)	307,139,982	306,910,099

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUI

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Adoption of new accounting standards	Common stock	Treasury stock	Paid-in capital	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	Retained earnings	Retained earningsAdoption of new accounting standards	Noncontrolling interests	Noncontrolling interestsAdoption of new accounting standards
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2018			952,133,418
Beginning Balance at Aug. 31, 2018	$ 26,689	$ (88)	$ 12	$ (15,047)	$ 10,493	$ (3,002)	$ 33,551	$ (88)	$ 682
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net earnings	3,962						3,982		(20)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(909)					(896)			(13)
Dividends declared and distributions	(1,632)						(1,629)		(3)
Treasury stock purchases (in shares)			(61,723,456)
Treasury stock purchases	(4,160)			(4,160)
Employee stock purchase and option plans (in shares)			4,977,540
Employee stock purchase and option plans	174			150	24
Stock-based compensation	119				119
Noncontrolling interests contribution and other	(3)				3		(1)		(5)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2019			895,387,502
Ending Balance at Aug. 31, 2019	24,152	(442)	$ 12	(19,057)	10,639	(3,897)	35,815	(442)	641
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net earnings	424						456		(32)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	148					126			22
Dividends declared and distributions	(1,751)						(1,618)		(133)
Treasury stock purchases (in shares)			(32,055,576)
Treasury stock purchases	(1,589)			(1,589)
Employee stock purchase and option plans (in shares)			2,271,593
Employee stock purchase and option plans	55			72	(17)
Stock-based compensation	137				137
Noncontrolling interests contribution and other	2				2
Ending Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2020			865,603,519
Ending Balance at Aug. 31, 2020	21,136	$ (6)	$ 12	(20,575)	10,761	(3,771)	34,210	$ (3)	498	$ (3)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net earnings	2,512						2,542		(31)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,669					1,663			6
Dividends declared and distributions	(1,629)						(1,629)
Treasury stock purchases (in shares)			(3,000,000)
Treasury stock purchases	(110)			(110)
Employee stock purchase and option plans (in shares)			2,770,117
Employee stock purchase and option plans	59			92	(33)
Stock-based compensation	155				155
Business combination	120				120
Noncontrolling interests contribution and other	(84)				(15)				(69)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2021			865,373,636
Ending Balance at Aug. 31, 2021	$ 23,822		$ 12	$ (20,593)	$ 10,988	$ (2,109)	$ 35,121		$ 402

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARN

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales	$ 132,509	$ 121,982	$ 120,074
Cost of sales	104,442	95,905	91,915
Gross profit	28,067	26,078	28,159
Selling, general and administrative expenses	24,586	25,436	23,557
Equity (loss) earnings in AmerisourceBergen	(1,139)	341	164
Operating income	2,342	982	4,766
Other income	558	77	243
Earnings before interest and income tax provision	2,900	1,060	5,009
Interest expense, net	905	613	650
Earnings before income tax provision	1,995	446	4,359
Income tax provision	667	339	577
Post tax earnings from other equity method investments	627	31	8
Net earnings from continuing operations	1,955	138	3,790
Net earnings from discontinued operations	557	286	172
Net earnings	2,512	424	3,962
Net (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests - continuing operations	(39)	(42)	(26)
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests - discontinued operations	9	9	6
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	2,542	456	3,982
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.:
Continuing operations	1,994	180	3,816
Discontinued operations	$ 548	$ 277	$ 166
Basic net earnings per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 2.31	$ 0.20	$ 4.14
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.63	0.31	0.18
Total (in dollars per share)	2.94	0.52	4.32
Diluted net earnings per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	2.30	0.20	4.13
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.63	0.31	0.18
Total (in dollars per share)	$ 2.93	$ 0.52	$ 4.31
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	864.8	879.4	921.5
Diluted (in shares)	866.4	880.3	923.5

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMP

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Comprehensive income:
Net earnings	$ 2,512	$ 424	$ 3,962
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Pension/postretirement obligations	389	(700)	(149)
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	21	(6)	5
Net investment hedges	(1)	(90)	55
Unrealized gain on available for sale securities	96	0	0
Share of other comprehensive (loss) of equity method investments	(18)	(14)	(1)
Currency translation adjustments	1,182	958	(820)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	1,669	148	(909)
Total comprehensive income	4,181	572	3,053
Comprehensive (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(25)	(10)	(33)
Comprehensive income attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	$ 4,205	$ 582	$ 3,086

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 2,512	$ 424	$ 3,962
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	1,973	1,927	2,038
Deferred income taxes	233	(43)	100
Stock compensation expense	155	137	119
Equity loss (earnings) from equity method investments	498	(382)	(187)
Goodwill and intangible impairments	49	2,016	0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	414	0	0
Gain on sale of business	(322)	0	0
Gain on sale of equity method investment	(321)	0	0
Other	(64)	464	302
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net	(1,451)	163	(789)
Inventories	165	63	141
Other current assets	(46)	(31)	(112)
Trade accounts payable	842	(25)	954
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	1,046	1,008	(374)
Income taxes	160	(221)	(406)
Other non-current assets and liabilities	(288)	(16)	(154)
Net cash provided by operating activities	5,555	5,484	5,594
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(1,379)	(1,374)	(1,702)
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions	856	724	3
Proceeds from sale of business, net of cash disposed	5,527	0	0
Proceeds from sale of other assets	453	90	117
Business, investment and asset acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(1,431)	(718)	(741)
Other	46	(19)	16
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	4,072	(1,297)	(2,307)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in short-term debt with maturities of 3 months or less	(909)	(161)	536
Proceeds from debt	12,726	20,367	12,433
Payments of debt	(15,257)	(21,414)	(10,461)
Stock purchases	(110)	(1,589)	(4,160)
Proceeds related to employee stock plans	59	55	174
Cash dividends paid	(1,617)	(1,747)	(1,643)
Early debt extinguishment	(3,687)	0	0
Other	(241)	(157)	75
Net cash used for financing activities	(9,036)	(4,647)	(3,047)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(66)	(1)	(9)
Changes in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	525	(460)	232
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	746	1,207	975
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	$ 1,270	$ 746	$ 1,207

Summary of major accounting pol

Summary of major accounting policies	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of major accounting policies	Summary of major accounting policies Organization Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) is a global leader in retail pharmacy. Its operations are conducted through two reportable segments: United States and International. See Note 17 Segment reporting and Note 18 Sales, for further information. Basis of presentation The Consolidated Financial Statements include all subsidiaries in which the Company holds a controlling interest. The Company uses the equity-method of accounting for equity investments in less than majority-owned companies if the investment provides the ability to exercise significant influence. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated. The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to use judgment in the application of accounting policies, including making estimates and assumptions. The Company bases its estimates on the information available at the time, its experiences and various other assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic (“COVID-19”) has severely impacted the economies of the United States (“U.S.”), the United Kingdom (“UK”) and other countries around the world. The impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s businesses, financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021, as well as information regarding certain expected or potential impacts of COVID-19 on the Company, is discussed throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company’s future assessment of the magnitude and duration of COVID-19, as well as other factors, could result in material impacts to the Company’s consolidated financial statements in future reporting periods. Adjustments may be made in subsequent periods to reflect more current estimates and assumptions about matters that are inherently uncertain. Actual results may differ. The impact of COVID-19, the influence of certain holidays, seasonality, foreign currency rates, changes in vendor, payer and customer relationships and terms, strategic transactions including acquisitions, changes in laws and general economic conditions in the markets in which the Company operates and other factors on the Company’s operations and net earnings for any period may not be comparable to the same period in previous years. On January 6, 2021, the Company entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with AmerisourceBergen Corporation (“AmerisourceBergen”). Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Share Purchase Agreement, AmerisourceBergen agreed to purchase the majority of the Company's Alliance Healthcare business as well as a portion of the Company’s retail pharmacy international businesses in Europe (“Disposal Group”) for approximately $6.5 billion, comprised of $6.275 billion in cash, subject to certain purchase price adjustments, and 2 million shares of AmerisourceBergen common stock (the “Alliance Healthcare Sale”). Alliance Healthcare’s investment in China and Italy and its operations in Germany were not included in the Disposal Group, and the Company's retail pharmacy international operations in The Netherlands, Norway and Lithuania were included in the Disposal Group. The Disposal Group met the criteria to be reported as discontinued operations. Therefore, the related assets, liabilities and operating results of the Disposal Group are reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented. The majority of the Disposal Group was previously included in the Pharmaceutical Wholesale segment. Effective as of the second quarter of fiscal 2021, the Company eliminated the Pharmaceutical Wholesale segment and aligned into two reportable segments: United States and International. See Note 17 Segment reporting, for additional information on the segments. On June 1, 2021 the Company completed the Alliance Healthcare Sale. Unless otherwise specified, disclosures in these Consolidated Financial Statements reflect continuing operations only. Certain prior period data, primarily related to discontinued operations, have been reclassified in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes to conform to the current period presentation. See Note 2 Discontinued operations, for further information. Certain amounts in the Consolidated Financial Statements and associated notes may not add due to rounding. Percentages have been calculated using unrounded amounts for all periods presented. Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less. Credit and debit card receivables, which generally settle within one seven Restricted cash and other cash flows from operating activities Restricted cash The Company is required to maintain cash deposits with certain banks which consist of deposits restricted under contractual agreements and cash restricted by law and other obligations. The following represents a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents in the Consolidated Balance Sheets to total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as of August 31, 2021 and 2020, (in millions): August 31, 2021 August 31, 2020 Cash and cash equivalents - continuing operations $ 1,193 $ 469 Cash and cash equivalents - discontinued operations — 47 Restricted cash - continuing operations (included in other current assets) 77 62 Restricted cash - discontinued operations — 168 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $ 1,270 $ 746 Other cash flows from operating activities Other cash flows from operating activities of $(64) million for fiscal 2021 include asset impairment of $203 million offset by gains on sales-leaseback transactions of $367 million. Other cash flows from operating activities of $464 million for fiscal 2020 include asset impairments of $462 million offset by gains on sales-leaseback transactions of $308 million. Other cash flows from operating activities of $302 million for fiscal 2019 include asset impairments of $328 million. Accounts receivable Accounts receivable are stated net of allowances for doubtful accounts. Accounts receivable balances primarily consist of trade receivables due from customers, including amounts due from third-party providers (e.g., pharmacy benefit managers, insurance companies and governmental agencies). Trade receivables were $4.5 billion and $3.0 billion at August 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Other accounts receivable balances, which consist primarily of receivables from vendors and manufacturers, including receivables from AmerisourceBergen (see Note 19 Related parties), were $1.1 billion and $1.1 billion at August 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Charges for the Company’s expected credit losses are recognized based upon all available relevant information regarding the collectability of receivables, including historical information, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions over the short contractual life of the receivable. The allowance for expected credit losses for trade receivables at August 31, 2021 and 2020 were $53 million and $26 million, respectively. Inventories The Company values inventories on a lower of cost and net realizable value or market basis. Inventories include product costs, inbound freight, direct labor, warehousing costs for retail pharmacy operations and distribution of products and vendor allowances not classified as a reduction of advertising expense. The Company’s United States segment inventory is accounted for using the last-in-first-out (“LIFO”) method. The total carrying value of the segment inventory accounted for under the LIFO method was $6.2 billion and $6.4 billion at August 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. At August 31, 2021 and 2020, United States segment inventory would have been greater by $3.3 billion and $3.3 billion, respectively, if they had been valued on a lower of first-in-first-out (“FIFO”) cost and net realizable value. The Company’s International segment inventory is accounted for using average cost and the FIFO method. The total carrying value of the inventory for International segment was $2.0 billion and $1.5 billion at August 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Property, plant and equipment Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Major repairs, which extend the useful life of an asset, are capitalized; routine maintenance and repairs are charged against earnings. Depreciation is provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of owned assets. Leasehold improvements, equipment under finance lease and finance lease properties are amortized over their respective estimate of useful life or over the term of the lease, whichever is shorter. The majority of the Company’s fixtures and equipment uses the composite method of depreciation. The following table summarizes the Company’s property, plant and equipment (in millions) and estimated useful lives (in years): Estimated useful life 2021 2020 Land and land improvements 20 $ 2,798 $ 3,157 Buildings and building improvements 3 to 50 7,569 7,795 Fixtures and equipment 3 to 20 10,314 9,904 Capitalized system development costs and software 3 to 10 3,624 3,061 Finance lease properties 1,016 1,011 $ 25,321 $ 24,927 Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization 13,073 12,131 Balance at end of year $ 12,247 $ 12,796 The Company capitalizes application development stage costs for internally developed software. These costs are amortized over a three Depreciation and amortization expense for property, plant and equipment including capitalized system development costs and software was $1.4 billion in fiscal 2021, $1.4 billion in fiscal 2020 and $1.4 billion in fiscal 2019. Leases The Company leases certain retail stores, warehouses, distribution centers, office space, land and equipment. Initial terms for leased premises in the United States are typically 15 to 25 years, followed by additional terms containing renewal options at five-year intervals, and may include rent escalation clauses. Non-U.S. leases are typically for shorter terms and may include cancellation clauses or renewal options. The lease term of real estate leases includes renewal options that are reasonably certain of being exercised. Options to extend are considered reasonably certain of being exercised based on evaluation if there are significant investments within the leased property which have useful lives greater than the non-cancelable lease term, performance of the underlying store and the Company’s economic and strategic initiatives. Short-term leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheets. The Company determines if an arrangement contains a lease at the inception of a contract. The lease classification is determined at the commencement date. Right-of-use assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease during the lease term. Right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of the remaining future minimum lease payments during the lease term. Lease commencement is the date the Company has the right to control the property. The Company utilizes its incremental borrowing rate to discount the lease payments. The incremental borrowing rate is based on the Company's estimated rate of interest for a collateralized borrowing over a similar term as the lease term. The operating lease right-of-use assets also include lease payments made before commencement, lease incentives and are recorded net of impairment. Operating leases are expensed on a straight line basis over the lease term. The Company accounts for lease components and non-lease components as a single lease component. Variable lease payment amounts that cannot be determined at the commencement of the lease such as increases in lease payments based on changes in index rates or usage, are not included in the right-of-use assets or lease liabilities. These are expensed as incurred. The Company has real estate leases which require additional payments based on sales volume, as well as reimbursement for real estate taxes, common area maintenance and insurance, which are expensed as incurred as variable lease costs and hence are not included in the lease payments used to calculate lease liability. Other real estate leases contain one fixed lease payment that includes real estate taxes, common area maintenance and insurance. These fixed payments are considered part of the lease payment and included in the right-of-use assets and lease liabilities. The Company does not separately account for the land portion of the leases involving land and building. Finance leases are recognized within property, plant and equipment and as a finance lease liability within accrued expenses and other liabilities and other noncurrent liabilities. See Note 5 Leases, for further information. Business combinations The Company allocates the fair value of purchase consideration to the tangible and intangible assets purchased and the liabilities assumed on the basis of their fair values at the date of acquisition. The determination of fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed requires estimates and the use of valuation techniques when a market value is not readily available. Any excess of purchase price over the fair value of net tangible and intangible assets acquired is allocated to goodwill. If the Company obtains new information about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date during the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, the Company may record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations. Acquired intangible assets are recorded at fair value. Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are evaluated for impairment annually during the fourth quarter, or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that could more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit or intangible asset below its carrying value. As part of the Company’s impairment analysis, fair value of a reporting unit is determined using both the income and market approaches. The income approach requires management to estimate a number of factors for each reporting unit, including projected future operating results, economic projections, anticipated future cash flows and discount rates. The market approach estimates fair value using comparable marketplace fair value data from within a comparable industry grouping. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment by comparing the estimated fair value of the asset to its carrying value. If the carrying value of the asset exceeds its estimated fair value, an impairment loss is recognized and the asset is written down to its estimated fair value See Note 7 Goodwill and other intangible assets, for additional disclosure regarding the Company’s intangible assets. Equity method investments The Company uses the equity method of accounting for equity investments if the investment provides the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over operating and financial policies of the investee. The Company’s proportionate share of the net income or loss of these investees is included in consolidated net earnings. Judgment regarding the level of influence over each equity method investment includes considering key factors such as the Company’s ownership interest, legal form of the investee (e.g. limited liability partnership), representation on the board of directors, participation in policy-making decisions and material intra-entity transactions. The Company evaluates equity method investments for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the investment might not be recoverable. Factors considered by the Company when reviewing an equity method investment for impairment include the length of time (duration) and the extent (severity) to which the fair value of the equity method investment has been less than cost, the investee’s financial condition and near-term prospects and the intent and ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for anticipated recovery. An impairment that is other-than-temporary is recognized in the period identified. See Note 6 Equity method investments, for further information. Financial instruments The Company uses derivative instruments to hedge its exposure to market risks, including interest rate and currency risks, arising from operating and financing risks. In accordance with its risk management policies, the Company does not hold or issue derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes. Derivatives are recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair values. When the Company becomes a party to a derivative instrument and intends to apply hedge accounting, it formally documents the hedge relationship and the risk management objective for undertaking the hedge which includes designating the instrument for financial reporting purposes as a fair value hedge, a cash flow hedge, or a net investment hedge. The accounting for changes in fair value of a derivative instrument depends on whether the Company had designated it in a qualifying hedging relationship and on the type of hedging relationship. The Company applies the following accounting policies: • Changes in the fair value of a derivative designated as a fair value hedge, along with the gain or loss on the hedged asset or liability attributable to the hedged risk, are recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings in the same line item, generally interest expense, net. • Changes in the fair value of a derivative designated as a cash flow hedge are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income and reclassified into earnings in the period or periods during which the hedged item affects earnings and is presented in the same line item as the earnings effect of the hedged item. • Changes in the fair value of a derivative designated as a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation are recorded in cumulative translation adjustments within accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Recognition in earnings of amounts previously recorded in cumulative translation adjustments is limited to circumstances such as complete or substantially complete liquidation of the net investment in the hedged investments in foreign operations. • Changes in the fair value of a derivative not designated in a hedging relationship are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. Cash receipts or payments on a settlement of a derivative contract are reported in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows consistent with the nature of the underlying hedged item. For derivative instruments designated as hedges, the Company assesses, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of hedged items. Highly effective means that cumulative changes in the fair value of the derivative are between 80% and 125% of the cumulative changes in the fair value of the hedged item. In addition, when the Company determines that a derivative is not highly effective as a hedge, hedge accounting is discontinued. When it is probable that a hedged forecasted transaction will not occur, the Company discontinues hedge accounting for the affected portion of the forecasted transaction and reclassifies any gains or losses in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to earnings in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings. When a derivative in a hedge relationship is terminated or the hedged item is sold, extinguished or terminated, hedge accounting is discontinued prospectively. Pension and postretirement benefits The Company has various defined benefit pension plans that cover some of its non-U.S. employees. The Company also has a postretirement healthcare plan that covers qualifying U.S. employees. Eligibility and the level of benefits for these plans vary depending on participants’ status, date of hire and or length of service. Pension and postretirement healthcare plan expenses and valuations are dependent on assumptions used by third-party actuaries in calculating those amounts. These assumptions include discount rates, healthcare cost trends, long-term return on plan assets, retirement rates, mortality rates and other factors. The Company funds its pension plans in accordance with applicable regulations. The Company records the service cost component of net pension cost and net postretirement healthcare benefit cost in selling, general and administrative expenses. The Company records all other net cost components of net pension cost and net postretirement benefit cost in other income (expense). The postretirement healthcare plan is not funded. See Note 14 Retirement benefits, for further information. Redeemable noncontrolling interest The Company presents non-controlling interest in temporary equity within its Consolidated Balance Sheets if it is redeemable at a fixed or determinable price on a fixed or determinable date on the option of the holder, or upon the occurrence of an event that is not solely within the control of the Company. The carrying amount of the redeemable non-controlling interest is equal to the greater of the carrying value of non-controlling interest adjusted each reporting period for income (or loss) attributable to the non-controlling interest as well as any applicable distributions made or the redemption value. Re-measurements to the redemption value of the redeemable non-controlling interest are recognized in additional paid in capital. The redeemable noncontrolling interest balance as of August 31, 2021 was $319 million primarily due to acquisitions during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021. See Note 3 Acquisitions, for further details. Noncontrolling interests The Company presents noncontrolling interests as a component of equity on its Consolidated Balance Sheets and reports the portion of its earnings or loss for noncontrolling interest as net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. Currency Assets and liabilities of non-U.S. dollar functional currency operations are translated into U.S. dollars at end-of-period exchange rates while revenues, expenses and cash flows are translated at average monthly exchange rates over the period. Equity is translated at historical exchange rates and the resulting cumulative translation adjustments are included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Assets and liabilities not denominated in the functional currency are remeasured into the functional currency at end-of-period exchange rates, except for nonmonetary balance sheet amounts, which are remeasured at historical exchange rates. Revenues and expenses are recorded at average monthly exchange rates over the period, except for those expenses related to nonmonetary balance sheet amounts, which are remeasured at historical exchange rates. Gains or losses from foreign currency remeasurement are generally included in selling, general and administrative expenses within the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. Commitments and contingencies On a quarterly basis, the Company assesses its liabilities and contingencies for outstanding legal proceedings and reserves are established on a case-by-case basis for those legal claims for which management concludes that it is probable that a loss will be incurred and that the amount of such loss can be reasonably estimated. Substantially all of these contingencies are subject to significant uncertainties and, therefore, determining the likelihood of a loss and/or the measurement of any loss can be complex. With respect to litigation and other legal proceedings where the Company has determined that a loss is reasonably possible, the Company may be unable to estimate the amount or range of reasonably possible loss due to the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of and uncertainties regarding such litigation and legal proceedings. The Company’s assessments are based on estimates and assumptions that have been deemed reasonable by management, but that may prove to be incomplete or inaccurate, and unanticipated events and circumstances may occur that might cause the Company to change those estimates and assumptions. Therefore, it is possible that an unfavorable resolution of one or more pending litigation or other contingencies could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements in a future fiscal period. Management’s assessment of current litigation and other legal proceedings, including the corresponding accruals, could change because of the discovery of facts with respect to legal actions or other proceedings pending against the Company which are not presently known. Adverse rulings or determinations by judges, juries, governmental authorities or other parties could also result in changes to management’s assessment of current liabilities and contingencies. Accordingly, the ultimate costs of resolving these claims may be substantially higher or lower than the amounts reserved. See Note 11 Commitments and contingencies, for further information. Revenue recognition Sales are recognized at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring control of goods or services to the customer. Sales are reported on the gross amount billed to a customer less discounts if it has earned revenue as a principal from the sale of goods and services. Sales are reported on the net amount retained (that is, the amount billed to the customer less the amount paid to a vendor) if it has earned a commission or a fee as an agent. The Company recognizes revenue, net of taxes and expected returns, at the time it sells merchandise or dispenses prescription drugs to the customer. The Company estimates revenue based on expected reimbursements from third-party payers (e.g., pharmacy benefit managers, insurance companies and governmental agencies) for dispensing prescription drugs. The estimates are based on all available information including historical experience and are updated to actual reimbursement amounts. Wholesale revenue is recognized, net of taxes and expected returns, upon shipment of goods, which is generally also the day of delivery. Loyalty programs and gift cards The Company’s loyalty rewards programs represent a separate performance obligation and are accounted for using the deferred revenue approach. When goods are sold, the transaction price is allocated between goods sold and loyalty points awarded based upon the relative standalone selling price. The revenue allocated to the loyalty points is recognized upon redemption. Loyalty programs breakage is recognized as revenue based on the redemption pattern. Customer purchases of gift cards are not recognized as revenue until the card is redeemed. Gift card breakage (i.e., unused gift card) is recognized as revenue based on the redemption pattern. Contract balances with customers The Company recognizes contract liabilities to record the Company’s obligation to transfer additional goods or services to a customer for which the Company has received consideration, for example the Company’s myWalgreens and Boots Advantage Card loyalty programs. Under such programs, customers earn Walgreens Cash or reward points on purchases for redemption at a later date. Cost of sales Cost of sales includes the purchase price of goods and cost of services rendered, store and warehouse inventory loss, inventory obsolescence and supplier rebates. In addition to product costs, cost of sales includes warehousing costs for retail operations, purchasing costs, freight costs, cash discounts and vendor allowances. Vendor allowances and supplier rebates Vendor allowances are principally received as a result of purchases, sales or promotion of vendors’ products. Allowances are generally recorded as a reduction of inventory and are recognized as a reduction of cost of sales when the related merchandise is sold. Allowances received for promoting vendors’ products are offset against advertising expense and result in a reduction of selling, general and administrative expenses to the extent of advertising costs incurred, with the excess treated as a reduction of inventory costs. Rebates or refunds received by the Company from its suppliers, mostly in cash, are considered as an adjustment of the prices of the supplier’s products purchased by the Company. Selling, general and administrative expenses Selling, general and administrative expenses mainly consist of salaries and employee costs, occupancy costs, depreciation and amortization, credit and debit card fees and expenses directly related to stores. In addition, other costs included are headquarters’ expenses, advertising costs (net of vendor advertising allowances), wholesale warehousing costs and insurance. Advertising costs Advertising costs are reduced by the portion funded by vendors, if reimbursement represents a specific, incremental, identifiable cost, and expensed as incurred or when services have been received. Net advertising expenses, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses, were $772 million in fiscal 2021, $532 million in fiscal 2020 and $582 million in fiscal 2019. Impairment of long-lived assets The Company evaluates the recoverability of long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such an asset may not be recoverable. The evaluation of long-lived assets is performed at the lowest level of identifiable cash flows. Long-lived assets related to the Company’s retail operations include property, plant and equipment, definite-lived intangibles, right of use asset as well as operating lease liability. If the asset group fails the recoverability test, then an impairment charge is determined based on the difference between the fair value of the asset group compared to its carrying value. Fair value of the asset group is generally determined using income approach based on cash flows expected from the use and eventual disposal of the asset group. Impairment charges for definite-lived assets included in selling, general and administrative expenses were $182 million, $401 million and $163 million for fiscal years 2021, 2020 and 2019 respectively. The determination of the fair value of the asset group requires management to estimate a number of factors including anticipated future cash flows and discount rates. Although we believe these estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ from those estimates due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making such estimates. Stock compensation plans Stock based compensation is measured at fair value at the grant date. The Company grants stock options, performance shares and restricted units to the Company’s non-employee directors, officers and employees. The Company recognizes compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the substantive service period. The fair value of each performance share granted assumes that performance goals will be achieved at 100 percent. If such goals are not met, no compensation expense is recognized and any recognized compensation expense is reversed. See Note 13 Stock compensation plans, for more information on the Company’s stock-based compensation plans. Insurance The Company obtains insurance coverage for catastrophic exposures as well as those risks required by law to be insured. In general, the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries retain a significant portion of losses related to workers’ compensation, property, comprehensive general, pharmacist and vehicle liability, while non-U.S. subsidiaries manage their exposures through insurance coverage with third-party carriers. Management regularly reviews the probable outcome of claims and proc

Discontinued operations

Discontinued operations	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]
Discontinued operations	Discontinued operations On January 6, 2021, the Company entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with AmerisourceBergen Corporation (“AmerisourceBergen”). Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Share Purchase Agreement, AmerisourceBergen agreed to purchase the majority of the Company's Alliance Healthcare business as well as a portion of the Company’s retail pharmacy international businesses in Europe (“Disposal Group”) for approximately $6.5 billion, comprised of $6.275 billion in cash, subject to certain purchase price adjustments, and 2 million shares of AmerisourceBergen common stock (the “Alliance Healthcare Sale”). Alliance Healthcare’s investment in China and Italy and its operations in Germany were not included in the Disposal Group, and the Company's retail pharmacy international operations in The Netherlands, Norway and Lithuania were included in the Disposal Group. On June 1, 2021 the Company completed the Alliance Healthcare Sale, for total consideration of $6.9 billion, which includes estimated cash consideration of $6.7 billion, subject to net working capital and net cash adjustments. The Company recorded a gain before currency translation adjustments of $1.1 billion and a net gain on disposal of $322 million. The gain on sale was presented as part of results of the discontinued operations. The following table shows the fair value of proceeds from the Alliance Healthcare Sale and net carrying value of the assets disposed. As of the date of this report, the Company had not finalized net working capital and net cash adjustments for discontinued operations and therefore proceeds and gain amounts presented are subject to further refinement and may result in changes. Transaction proceeds and net assets disposed ($ in billions) Estimated fair value of proceeds from disposition 1 $ 6.9 Estimated net assets disposed 5.8 Estimated gain before currency translation adjustments 1.1 Estimated amount of currency translation loss released due to disposition (0.8) Net gain on disposal of discontinued operation 2 $ 0.3 1 Includes base consideration of $6.275 billion adjusted for net working capital and net cash adjustments as set forth in the Share Purchase Agreement. 2 The Company recorded insignificant amount of tax expense due to utilization of capital losses. As of August 31, 2021, the Company recorded a $98 million receivable for purchase price consideration due from AmerisourceBergen that is subject to change upon the finalization of net working capital and net cash adjustments. The assets and liabilities and operating results of the Disposal Group are reported as discontinued operations, for all periods presented, as the disposition reflects a strategic shift that has, or will have, a major effect on the Company’s operations and financial results. The Company classified assets and liabilities of the Disposal Group as held for sale in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at the lower of its carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. Depreciation and amortization ceased on assets classified as held for sale. The Company allocated goodwill to the Disposal Group using relative fair value of the Disposal Group and businesses retained within the respective reporting units. Results of discontinued operations were as follows (in millions): For the years ending August 31, 2021 2020 2019 Sales $ 16,070 $ 19,349 $ 18,618 Cost of sales 14,486 17,409 16,701 Gross profit 1,584 1,940 1,917 Selling, general and administrative expense 1 1,254 1,610 1,685 Operating income from discontinued operations 329 330 232 Other income (expense) 2 314 (8) (11) Interest expense, net (23) (25) (54) Earnings before income tax – discontinued operations 621 297 168 Income tax provision 78 21 11 Post tax earnings from other equity method investments 15 10 15 Net earnings from discontinued operations $ 557 $ 286 $ 172 1 Includes $44 million of divestiture related costs incurred post completion of the Alliance Healthcare Sale. 2 Includes $322 million of gain on sale of discontinued operations. Sales from the Disposal Group to the Company's continuing operations aggregate to (in millions): For the years ending August 31, 2021 1 2020 2019 Sales $ 1,385 $ 1,794 $ 1,826 1 Sales in Fiscal 2021 until date of disposal. The following table presents cash flows from operating and investing activities for discontinued operations (in millions): Twelve months ended August 31, 2021 2020 2019 Cash (used in) provided by operating activities - discontinued operations $ (132) $ 334 $ 302 Cash (used in) provided by for investing activities - discontinued operations (58) (80) (97) Asset and liabilities of discontinued operations were as follows (in millions): August 31, 2021 August 31, 2020 Cash and cash equivalents $ — $ 47 Accounts receivable, net — 3,022 Inventories — 1,534 Other current assets — 376 Assets of discontinued operations - current $ — $ 4,979 Property, plant and equipment, net 1 $ — $ 816 Goodwill and intangibles — 3,936 Other non-current assets — 230 Assets of discontinued operations - non-current $ — $ 4,983 Short term debt $ — $ 273 Trade accounts payables — 4,313 Accrued expenses and other liabilities — 746 Income taxes — 14 Liabilities of discontinued operations - current $ — $ 5,347 Deferred income taxes $ — $ 131 Other non-current liabilities — 280 Liabilities of discontinued operations - non-current $ — $ 412 1 Includes Operating lease right-of-use assets. See Note 6 Equity method investments and Note 19 Related parties, for more information on the Company's equity method investment in AmerisourceBergen and the Company's continuing involvement.

Acquisitions

Acquisitions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Business Combination and Asset Acquisition [Abstract]
Acquisitions	Acquisitions iA acquisition On December 29, 2020, the Company acquired a majority equity interest in Innovation Associates, Inc. for a cash consideration of $451 million. Innovation Associates, Inc. is a leading-edge provider of software enabled automation solutions for retail, hospital and federal healthcare and mail-order pharmacy markets. The Company accounted for this acquisition as a business combination and consolidates Innovation Associates, Inc. within the United States segment in its financial statements. Considering the contractual terms related to the noncontrolling interest, it is classified as redeemable noncontrolling interest in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The goodwill arising from this acquisition reflects the expected operational synergies and cost savings to be derived as a result of this acquisition. As of August 31, 2021, the Company has completed the analysis to determine the fair value of the consideration paid or to assign fair values to all tangible and intangible assets acquired, and therefore the purchase price allocation has been completed. The following table summarizes the consideration for the acquisition and the amounts of identified assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of the transaction (in millions): Purchase Price Allocation: Total Consideration $ 477 Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed Tangible assets $ 58 Developed technology and other intangibles 202 Liabilities (74) Total identifiable net assets $ 186 Non-controlling interest 103 Goodwill $ 394 Pro forma net earnings and sales of the Company, assuming the acquisition had occurred at the beginning of each period presented, would not be materially different from the results reported. The acquisition did not have a material impact on net earnings or sales of the Company for the twelve months ended August 31, 2021. Pharmaceutical Wholesale business in Germany On November 1, 2020, the Company and McKesson Corporation closed a transaction to form a combined pharmaceutical wholesale business in Germany, as part of a strategic alliance. The Company owns a 70% controlling equity interest in the combined business which is consolidated by the Company and reported within the International segment in its financial statements. The Company accounted for this acquisition as a business combination involving noncash purchase consideration of $296 million consisting of the issuance of an equity interest in the combined business. As of August 31, 2021, the Company has completed the analysis to determine the fair value of the consideration paid or to assign fair values to all tangible and intangible assets acquired, and therefore the purchase price allocation has been completed. The following table summarizes the consideration for the acquisition and the amounts of identified assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of the transaction (in millions): Purchase Price Allocation: Total Consideration $ 331 Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed Accounts receivable, cash and other assets $ 582 Inventories 470 Property, plant and equipment 125 Short term debt (296) Trade accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities (374) Other noncurrent liabilities (197) Total identifiable net assets $ 311 Goodwill $ 21 The Company recognized a noncontrolling interest of $175 million based on the Company's proportionate interest in the identifiable net assets of the combined business. The difference between the carrying amount of the non-controlling interest and the fair value of the consideration in the business combination is recognized as additional paid in capital. Considering the contractual terms related to the noncontrolling interest, it is classified as redeemable noncontrolling interest in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The following table represents supplemental pro forma consolidated sales for the twelve months ended August 31, 2021 and August 31, 2020, respectively as if the acquisition had occurred at the beginning of each period. The pro forma information has been prepared for comparative purposes only and is not intended to be indicative of what the Company's results would have been had the acquisition occurred at the beginning of the periods presented or results which may occur in the future. Twelve months ended August 31, (in millions) 2021 2020 Sales $ 133,553 $ 127,817 Actual sales for the twelve months ended August 31, 2021 included in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings are as follows: (in millions) 2021 Sales $ 5,099 Pro forma net earnings of the Company, assuming the acquisition had occurred at the beginning of each period presented, would not be materially different from the results reported. Other acquisitions The Company acquired certain prescription files and related pharmacy inventory primarily in the U.S. for the aggregate purchase price of $108 million and $258 million during the fiscal year ended 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Exit and disposal activities

Exit and disposal activities	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]
Exit and disposal activities	Exit and disposal activities Transformational Cost Management Program On December 20, 2018, the Company announced a transformational cost management program that was expected to deliver in excess of $2.0 billion of annual cost savings by fiscal 2022 (the “Transformational Cost Management Program”). At the end of fiscal 2021, the Company had delivered this annual cost savings goal. Building on the successful implementation of the Transformational Cost Management Program to date and as part of the Company's strategic realignment to create even greater focus on the Company’s core business, on October 12, 2021, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an expansion and extension of the Transformational Cost Management Program through the end of fiscal 2024. The expanded Transformational Cost Management Program is expected to deliver incremental savings from existing programs and a comprehensive funnel of new initiatives which are intended to improve operating effectiveness and better position the core business for the future. The expansion of the program reflects further strategic initiatives to optimize real estate, implement a global business and centralized services model, as well as leverage technology and new business models to streamline processes across the organization. As a result, the Company is increasing its annual savings target to $3.3 billion of annual cost savings by fiscal 2024. The Transformational Cost Management Program, which is multi-faceted and includes divisional optimization initiatives, global smart spending, global smart organization and the transformation of the Company’s information technology (IT) capabilities, is designed to help the Company achieve increased cost efficiencies. To date, the Company has taken actions across all aspects of the Transformational Cost Management Program. The actions under the Transformational Cost Management Program focus on all reportable segments and the Company’s global functions. Divisional optimization within each of the Company’s segments includes activities such as optimization of stores. As a result of the expanded program, the Company now plans to reduce its presence by up to 150 Boots stores in the UK and up to 150 stores in the United States over the next three years which are incremental to the previously planned reductions of approximately 200 Boots stores in the UK and approximately 250 stores in the United States. The Company currently estimates that the Transformational Cost Management Program will result in cumulative pre-tax charges to its GAAP financial results of approximately $3.6 billion to $3.9 billion, of which $3.3 billion to $3.6 billion are expected to be recorded as exit and disposal activities. In addition to these impacts, as a result of the actions related to store closures taken under the Transformational Cost Management Program, the Company recorded $508 million of transition adjustments to decrease retained earnings due to the adoption of the new lease accounting standard (Topic 842) that became effective on September 1, 2019. See Note 1 Summary of major accounting policies, for additional information. Since the inception of the Transformational Cost Management Program to August 31, 2021, the Company has recognized cumulative pre-tax charges to its financial results in accordance with GAAP of $1.3 billion, which were primarily recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses. These charges included $353 million related to lease obligations and other real estate costs, $252 million in asset impairments, $513 million in employee severance and business transition costs and $163 million of information technology transformation and other exit costs. Costs related to exit and disposal activities under the Transformational Cost Management Program for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, were as follows (in millions): Twelve Months Ended August 31, 2021 United States International Corporate and Other Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. Lease obligations and other real estate costs $ 103 $ 6 $ — $ 108 Asset impairments 15 9 — 24 Employee severance and business transition costs 79 40 45 165 Information technology transformation and other exit costs 20 17 — 38 Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges $ 217 $ 72 $ 46 $ 335 Twelve Months Ended August 31, 2020 United States International Corporate and Other Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. Lease obligations and other real estate costs $ 191 $ 9 $ 14 $ 215 Asset impairments 51 19 2 72 Employee severance and business transition costs 132 93 45 270 Information technology transformation and other exit costs 70 42 (4) 108 Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges $ 444 $ 163 $ 58 $ 665 Twelve Months Ended August 31, 2019 United States International Corporate and Other Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. Lease obligations and other real estate costs $ 5 $ 26 $ — $ 30 Asset impairments 95 61 — 156 Employee severance and business transition costs 41 37 1 78 Information technology transformation and other exit costs 6 10 — 17 Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges $ 147 $ 134 $ 1 $ 282 The changes in liabilities and assets related to the exit and disposal activities under Transformational Cost Management Program include the following (in millions): Lease obligations and other real estate costs Asset Impairments Employee severance and business transition costs Information technology transformation and other exit costs Total Balance at August 31, 2019 $ 17 $ — $ 27 $ 3 $ 47 Costs 215 72 270 108 665 Payments (44) — (146) (86) (276) Other - non cash (166) (72) 13 (11) (236) ASC 842 Leases adoption (4) — — — (4) Currency 1 — 2 — 3 Balance at August 31, 2020 $ 19 $ — $ 166 $ 14 $ 199 Costs 108 24 165 38 335 Payments (69) — (252) (31) (351) Other - non cash (42) (24) (4) — (70) Currency — — 2 (1) 1 Balance at August 31, 2021 $ 17 $ — $ 77 $ 20 $ 114 Store Optimization Program On October 24, 2017, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a plan to implement a program (the “Store Optimization Program”) to optimize store locations through the planned closure of approximately 600 stores and related assets within the Company’s United States segment upon completion of the acquisition of certain stores and related assets from Rite Aid. The Company closed 769 stores and related assets. The actions under the Store Optimization Program commenced in March 2018 and were completed in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020. Costs related to Store Optimization Program for the twelve months ended August 2020 were $22 million for lease obligation and other real estate costs and $31 million for employee severance and other exit costs, respectively. The liabilities related to Store Optimization Program as of August 31, 2021 and August 31, 2020 were not material.

Leases

Leases	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Leases [Abstract]
Leases	Leases Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases were as follows (in millions): Balance Sheet supplemental information: August 31, 2021 August 31, 2020 Operating Leases: Operating lease right-of-use assets $ 21,893 $ 21,453 Operating lease obligations - current $ 2,259 $ 2,358 Operating lease obligations - non current 22,153 21,765 Total operating lease obligations $ 24,412 $ 24,123 Finance Leases: Right-of-use assets included in: Property, plant and equipment, net $ 725 $ 766 Lease obligations included in: Accrued expenses and other liabilities $ 37 $ 31 Other non-current liabilities 974 1,013 Total finance lease obligations $ 1,010 $ 1,044 Supplemental income statement information related to leases were as follows (in millions): Statement of Earnings supplemental information: August 31, 2021 August 31, 2020 Operating lease cost Fixed $ 3,219 $ 3,252 Variable 1 664 750 Finance lease cost Amortization $ 45 $ 40 Interest 52 54 Sublease income $ 84 $ 75 Impairment of right-of-use assets 86 213 Impairment of finance lease assets — 24 Gains on sale-leaseback transactions 2 367 308 1 Includes real estate property taxes, common area maintenance, insurance and rental payments based on sales volume. 2 Recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses. Rental expense for fiscal 2019 prior to the adoption of ASC 842 Leases, which includes common area maintenance, insurance and taxes, where appropriate, was $3,552 million, comprising minimum rentals of $3,550 million, contingent rentals of $67 million and sub lease rental income of $66 million. Other supplemental information was as follows (in millions): Other Supplemental Information: August 31, 2021 August 31, 2020 Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease obligations Operating cash flows from operating leases $ 3,414 $ 3,251 Operating cash flows from finance leases 48 48 Financing cash flows from finance leases 42 47 Total $ 3,503 $ 3,346 Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new lease obligations: Operating leases $ 2,765 $ 2,443 Finance leases — 65 Total $ 2,765 $ 2,508 Average lease term and discount rate as of August 31, 2021 were as follows: Weighted average terms and discount rates: August 31, 2021 August 31, 2020 Weighted average remaining lease term in years: Operating leases 10.3 10.7 Finance leases 20.2 20.6 Weighted average discount rate Operating leases 4.77 % 4.97 % Finance leases 5.18 % 5.14 % The aggregate future lease payments for operating and finance leases as of August 31, 2021 were as follows (in millions): Future lease payments (Fiscal years): Finance lease Operating lease 2022 $ 89 $ 3,439 2023 88 3,342 2024 88 3,224 2025 87 3,102 2026 86 2,982 Later 1,142 15,210 Total undiscounted minimum lease payments $ 1,580 $ 31,299 Less: Present value discount (570) (6,887) Lease liability $ 1,010 $ 24,412
Leases	Leases Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases were as follows (in millions): Balance Sheet supplemental information: August 31, 2021 August 31, 2020 Operating Leases: Operating lease right-of-use assets $ 21,893 $ 21,453 Operating lease obligations - current $ 2,259 $ 2,358 Operating lease obligations - non current 22,153 21,765 Total operating lease obligations $ 24,412 $ 24,123 Finance Leases: Right-of-use assets included in: Property, plant and equipment, net $ 725 $ 766 Lease obligations included in: Accrued expenses and other liabilities $ 37 $ 31 Other non-current liabilities 974 1,013 Total finance lease obligations $ 1,010 $ 1,044 Supplemental income statement information related to leases were as follows (in millions): Statement of Earnings supplemental information: August 31, 2021 August 31, 2020 Operating lease cost Fixed $ 3,219 $ 3,252 Variable 1 664 750 Finance lease cost Amortization $ 45 $ 40 Interest 52 54 Sublease income $ 84 $ 75 Impairment of right-of-use assets 86 213 Impairment of finance lease assets — 24 Gains on sale-leaseback transactions 2 367 308 1 Includes real estate property taxes, common area maintenance, insurance and rental payments based on sales volume. 2 Recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses. Rental expense for fiscal 2019 prior to the adoption of ASC 842 Leases, which includes common area maintenance, insurance and taxes, where appropriate, was $3,552 million, comprising minimum rentals of $3,550 million, contingent rentals of $67 million and sub lease rental income of $66 million. Other supplemental information was as follows (in millions): Other Supplemental Information: August 31, 2021 August 31, 2020 Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease obligations Operating cash flows from operating leases $ 3,414 $ 3,251 Operating cash flows from finance leases 48 48 Financing cash flows from finance leases 42 47 Total $ 3,503 $ 3,346 Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new lease obligations: Operating leases $ 2,765 $ 2,443 Finance leases — 65 Total $ 2,765 $ 2,508 Average lease term and discount rate as of August 31, 2021 were as follows: Weighted average terms and discount rates: August 31, 2021 August 31, 2020 Weighted average remaining lease term in years: Operating leases 10.3 10.7 Finance leases 20.2 20.6 Weighted average discount rate Operating leases 4.77 % 4.97 % Finance leases 5.18 % 5.14 % The aggregate future lease payments for operating and finance leases as of August 31, 2021 were as follows (in millions): Future lease payments (Fiscal years): Finance lease Operating lease 2022 $ 89 $ 3,439 2023 88 3,342 2024 88 3,224 2025 87 3,102 2026 86 2,982 Later 1,142 15,210 Total undiscounted minimum lease payments $ 1,580 $ 31,299 Less: Present value discount (570) (6,887) Lease liability $ 1,010 $ 24,412

Equity method investments

Equity method investments	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]
Equity method investments	Equity method investments Equity method investments as of August 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows (in millions, except percentages): 2021 2020 Carrying value Ownership percentage Carrying value Ownership percentage AmerisourceBergen $ 4,407 28% $ 5,446 28% Others 2,580 8% - 50% 1,758 8% - 50% Total $ 6,987 $ 7,204 AmerisourceBergen Corporation (“AmerisourceBergen”) investment As of August 31, 2021 and August 31, 2020, respectively, the Company owned 58,854,867 and 56,854,867 shares of AmerisourceBergen common stock, representing approximately 28.5% and 27.9% of its outstanding common stock based on the share count publicly reported by AmerisourceBergen in its most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. As of August 31, 2021, the Company has designated one member of AmerisourceBergen’s board of directors. The Company accounts for its equity investment in AmerisourceBergen using the equity method of accounting, with the net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company’s investment being classified within the operating income of its United States segment. Due to the timing and availability of financial information of AmerisourceBergen, the Company accounts for this equity method investment on a financial reporting lag of two months. Equity earnings (loss) from AmerisourceBergen are reported as a separate line in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. During the twelve months ended August 31, 2021, the Company recognized equity losses in AmerisourceBergen of $1,139 million. These equity losses were primarily due to AmerisourceBergen's recognition of $5.6 billion, net of tax charge related to its ongoing opioid litigation in its financial statements for the three months period ended September 30, 2020. The Level 1 fair market value of the Company’s equity investment in AmerisourceBergen common stock at August 31, 2021 and 2020 was $7.2 billion and $5.5 billion, respectively. As of August 31, 2021, the carrying value of Company’s investment in AmerisourceBergen exceeded its proportionate share of the net assets of AmerisourceBergen by $4.4 billion. This premium of $4.4 billion was recognized as part of the carrying value in the Company’s equity investment in AmerisourceBergen. The difference was primarily related to goodwill and the fair value of AmerisourceBergen intangible assets. Other investments The Company’s other equity method investments include its investments in the U.S. which include the Company's investment in HC Group Holdings I, LLC (“HC Group Holdings”) which owns equity interest in Option Care Health, Village Practice Management Company, LLC (“VillageMD”), BrightSpring Health Services (previously PharMerica Corporation) and Shields Health Solutions and the Company's investments in China through Sinopharm Medicine Holding Guoda Drugstores Co., Ltd, Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Nanjing Pharmaceutical Company Limited. The Company reported $627 million, $31 million and $8 million of post-tax equity earnings from other equity method investments, for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021, the Company recorded a gain of $290 million in Other income due to a partial sale of ownership interest in Option Care Health by the Company's equity method investee HC Group Holdings. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021, as a result of partial sales of ownership interest in Option Care Health, our equity method investee HC Group Holdings lost the ability to control Option Care Health and, therefore, deconsolidated Option Care Health in its financial statements. As a result of this deconsolidation, HC Group Holdings recognized a gain of $1.2 billion and the Company recorded its share of equity earnings in HC Group Holdings $576 million during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021, respectively, in post tax earnings from other equity method investments. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021, the Company made an additional investment of $750 million in VillageMD, $250 million of which is recorded as an equity method investment and $500 million of which is recorded as an investment in convertible debt securities within Other non-current assets. See Note 21. Subsequent events, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II. Item 8 herein for further information. Summarized financial information Summarized financial information for the Company’s equity method investments in aggregate is as follows: Balance sheet (in millions) Year ended August 31, 2021 2020 Current assets $ 49,538 $ 39,167 Non-current assets 27,442 18,138 Current liabilities 48,766 38,034 Non-current liabilities 22,046 10,600 Shareholders’ equity 1 6,168 8,671 1 Shareholders’ equity at August 31, 2021 and 2020 includes $646 million and $387 million, respectively, related to noncontrolling interests. Statements of earnings (in millions) Year ended August 31, 2021 2020 2019 Sales $ 232,719 $ 208,625 $ 195,540 Gross profit 10,889 8,707 7,303 Net earnings (loss) (3,475) 1,624 997 Share of earnings (loss) from equity method investments (512) 372 172 The summarized financial information for equity method investments has been included on an aggregated basis for all investments as reported at the end of each fiscal year end.

Goodwill and other intangible a

Goodwill and other intangible assets	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill and other intangible assets	Goodwill and other intangible assets Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are evaluated for impairment annually during the fourth quarter, or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit or intangible asset below its carrying value. Based on the annual evaluation as of the June 1, 2021 valuation date, the fair values of the Company’s reporting units exceeded their carrying amounts ranging from approximately 18% to approximately 195%. Boots reporting unit's fair value was in excess of its carrying value by approximately 18%, compared to a nominal amount as of June 1, 2020, mainly due to decline in the carrying amounts of net assets of the reporting unit. Other international reporting unit's fair value was in excess of its carrying value by approximately 29% compared to 4% as of June 1, 2020, due to improvement in business conditions of the countries within the reporting unit. As of August 31, 2021, the carrying values of goodwill were $1.1 billion and $0.4 billion for Boots reporting unit and Other international reporting unit, respectively. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021 the Company recorded an impairment of $49 million on certain indefinite-lived Boots tradename assets. The fair values of indefinite-lived intangibles within the Boots reporting unit exceeded their carrying value amounts ranging from approximately 5% to approximately 27%, except for certain Boots indefinite lived Boots tradename assets which were impaired during the year. As of August 31, 2021 and August 31, 2020, the carrying value of the indefinite-lived intangibles within the Boots reporting unit was $7.3 billion and $7.2 billion, respectively. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020, the Company completed a quantitative impairment analysis for goodwill and certain indefinite-lived intangible assets related to its two reporting units within the International segment, Boots and Other international, as a result of the significant impact of COVID-19 on their financial performance. Based on this analysis, the Company recorded impairment charges of $1.7 billion on Boots goodwill and $0.3 billion on certain indefinite-lived Boots tradename assets. During the fiscal year ended August 31 2019, the Company recorded an impairment of $73 million on its pharmacy licenses in the Boots reporting unit. As part of the Company’s impairment analysis, fair value of a reporting unit is determined using both the income and market approaches. The income approach requires management to estimate a number of factors for each reporting unit, including the projected future operating results, economic projections, anticipated future cash flows and discount rates considering the impact of COVID-19, among other potential impacts. The market approach estimates fair value using comparable marketplace fair value data from within a comparable industry grouping. The determination of the fair value of the reporting units requires the Company to make significant estimates and assumptions with respect to the business and financial performance of the Company’s reporting units, as well as how such performance may be impacted by COVID-19. These estimates and assumptions primarily include, but are not limited to: the selection of appropriate peer group companies, control premiums appropriate for acquisitions in the industries in which we compete, discount rates, terminal growth rates, and forecasts of revenue, operating income, depreciation, amortization and capital expenditures, including considering the impact of COVID-19. Indefinite-lived intangible assets fair values are estimated using the relief from royalty method and excess earnings method of the income approach. The determination of the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangibles requires the Company to make significant estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions primarily include, but are not limited to: forecasts of revenue, the selection of appropriate royalty rate and discount rates. Although the Company believes its estimates of fair value are reasonable, actual financial results could differ from those estimates due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making such estimates. Changes in assumptions concerning future financial results or other underlying assumptions, including the impact of COVID-19, could have a significant impact on either the fair value of the reporting units and indefinite-lived intangibles, the amount of any goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible impairment charges, or both. These estimates can be affected by a number of factors including, but not limited to, the impact of COVID-19, its severity, duration and its impact on global economies, general economic conditions as well as our profitability. The Company will continue to monitor these potential impacts, including the impact of economic, industry and market trends and the impact these may have on Boots and Other international reporting units. Definite-lived intangible assets are evaluated for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that a certain asset or asset group may be impaired. During the year ended August 31, 2020, the Company evaluated certain definite-lived intangibles for impairment resulting in an impairment charge of $47 million. No impairment was recorded for definite-lived intangibles in the year ended August 31, 2021. Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by reportable segment consist of the following activity (in millions): Goodwill rollforward: United States International Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. August 31, 2019 $ 10,491 $ 3,051 $ 13,542 Acquisitions 1 62 — 62 Impairment — (1,675) (1,675) Currency translation adjustments — 83 83 August 31, 2020 $ 10,553 $ 1,460 $ 12,013 Acquisitions 2 $ 394 $ 21 $ 414 Currency translation adjustments — (7) (7) August 31, 2021 $ 10,947 $ 1,474 $ 12,421 1 During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020, the Company acquired the remaining two of three Rite Aid distribution centers including related inventory for cash consideration of $91 million resulting in an increase to goodwill of $62 million. 2 During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021, the Company acquired a controlling equity interest in Innovation Associates, Inc. and a joint venture with McKesson which resulted in an increase to goodwill of $394 million and $21 million, respectively. The carrying amount and accumulated amortization of intangible assets consist of the following (in millions): Intangible assets: August 31, 2021 August 31, 2020 Gross amortizable intangible assets Customer relationships and loyalty card holders 1 $ 3,522 $ 3,502 Tradenames and trademarks 361 348 Purchasing and payer contracts 317 337 Others 2 221 60 Total gross amortizable intangible assets $ 4,421 $ 4,247 Accumulated amortization Customer relationships and loyalty card holders 1 $ 1,335 $ 1,089 Tradenames and trademarks 226 196 Purchasing and payer contracts 227 95 Others 2 37 26 Total accumulated amortization 1,826 1,406 Total amortizable intangible assets, net $ 2,595 $ 2,841 Indefinite-lived intangible assets Tradenames and trademarks $ 5,276 $ 5,203 Pharmacy licenses 2,066 2,028 Total indefinite-lived intangible assets $ 7,342 $ 7,231 Total intangible assets, net $ 9,936 $ 10,072 1 Includes purchased prescription files. 2 Includes acquired developed technology and non-compete agreements. Amortization expense for intangible assets was $523 million, $384 million and $473 million in fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Estimated future annual amortization expense for the next five fiscal years for intangible assets recorded at August 31, 2021 is as follows (in millions): 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 Estimated annual amortization expense $ 444 $ 330 $ 311 $ 276 $ 258

Debt

Debt	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt	Debt Debt carrying values are presented net of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs, where applicable, and foreign currency denominated debt is translated using the spot rates as of the balance sheet date. Debt consists of the following (all amounts are presented in millions of U.S. dollars and debt issuances are denominated in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted): August 31, 2021 August 31, 2020 Short-term debt Commercial paper $ — $ 1,517 Credit facilities 6 — 1,071 £700 million note issuance 1,2 2.875% unsecured Pound sterling notes due 2020 — 533 $8 billion note issuance 1 3.300% unsecured notes due 2021 3 1,250 — Other 4 56 144 Total short-term debt $ 1,305 $ 3,265 Long-term debt $1.5 billion note issuance 1 3.200% unsecured notes due 2030 $ 497 $ 497 4.100% unsecured notes due 2050 6 792 990 $6 billion note issuance 1 3.450% unsecured notes due 2026 6 1,442 1,891 4.650% unsecured notes due 2046 6 318 591 $8 billion note issuance 1 3.300% unsecured notes due 2021 — 1,248 3.800% unsecured notes due 2024 6 1,154 1,993 4.500% unsecured notes due 2034 6 301 496 4.800% unsecured notes due 2044 6 868 1,493 £700 million note issuance , 1 3.600% unsecured Pound sterling notes due 2025 408 398 €750 million note issuance 1 2.125% unsecured Euro notes due 2026 873 891 $4 billion note issuance 5 3.100% unsecured notes due 2022 6 731 1,198 4.400% unsecured notes due 2042 6 263 493 Other 4 29 24 Total long-term debt, less current portion $ 7,675 $ 12,203 1 Notes are unsubordinated debt obligations of the Company and rank equally in right of payment with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company from time to time outstanding. 2 On October 20, 2020, the Company redeemed in full the £400 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of its 2.875% unsecured Pound sterling notes due 2020 issued by the Company on November 20, 2014. 3 On August 17, 2021, the Company provided notice to the Trustee and the Holders of its 3.300% notes due 2021 issued by the Company on November 18, 2014 that it will redeem in full the $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount outstanding of the notes on September 18, 2021. These notes were redeemed in full as of that date. 4 Other debt represents a mix of fixed and variable rate debt with various maturities and working capital facilities denominated in various currencies. 5 Notes are senior debt obligations of Walgreen Co. and rank equally with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of Walgreen Co. On December 31, 2014, the Company fully and unconditionally guaranteed the outstanding notes on an unsecured and unsubordinated basis. The guarantee, for so long as it is in place, is an unsecured, unsubordinated debt obligation of the Company and will rank equally in right of payment with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company. 6 On April 26, 2021, the Company entered into a cash tender offer to partially purchase and retire $3.3 billion of long term U.S. dollar denominated notes with a weighted average interest rate of 4.02%, using funds drawn down from the $3.8 billion April 2021 Credit Agreement (as defined below). The Company recognized a loss of $414 million related to the early extinguishment of debt, within Interest expense, which includes $386 million of redemption premium paid in cash. The cash payments related to the early extinguishment of debt are classified as cash outflows from financing activities in the consolidated statement of cash flows. At August 31, 2021, the future maturities of short-term and long-term debt, excluding debt discounts and issuance costs and finance lease obligations (See Note 5 Leases, for the future lease payments), consisted of the following (in millions): Amount 2022 $ 1,305 2023 733 2024 2 2025 1,163 2026 1,858 Later 3,957 Total estimated future maturities $ 9,018 $1.5 Billion Note Issuance On April 15, 2020, the Company issued in an underwritten public offering $0.5 billion of 3.20% notes due 2030 and $1.0 billion of 4.10% notes due 2050. Total issuance costs relating to the notes, including underwriting discounts and offering expenses were $13 million. The Company partially purchased and retired $0.2 billion of its outstanding $1.0 billion, 4.10% notes due 2050 pursuant to the debt tender offer completed on April 26, 2021. Credit facilities April 9, 2021 Delayed Draw Term Loan Credit Agreement On April 9, 2021, the Company entered into a delayed draw term loan credit agreement (the “April 2021 Credit Agreement”) with the lenders from time to time party thereto. The purpose of the loan was to fund the Company's April 26, 2021 cash tender offer to partially purchase and retire $3.3 billion of long term U.S. dollar denominated notes. The April 2021 Credit Agreement was initially a $2.8 billion senior unsecured delayed draw term loan facility, with an original facility termination date (the “Initial Maturity Date”) of the earliest of (x) October 9, 2021, (y) the date of acceleration of all term loans and termination of all commitments pursuant to the April 2021 Credit Agreement and (z) the date of prepayment of all loans and the termination of all commitments pursuant to the April 2021 Credit Agreement. On April 23, 2021, the April 2021 Credit Agreement term loan facility amount was increased to $3.8 billion. On June 1, 2021 the Company completed the previously announced sale of the Company’s Alliance Healthcare business and used a portion of the Alliance Healthcare Sale proceeds to repay all borrowings outstanding under the April 2021 Credit Agreement. December 23, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement On December 23, 2020, the Company entered into a $1.25 billion senior unsecured 364-day revolving credit agreement and a $2.25 billion senior unsecured 18-month revolving credit facility, with a swing line sub-facility commitment amount of $350 million, with designated borrowers from time to time party thereto and lenders from time to time party thereto (the “2020 Revolving Credit Agreement”). The 364-Day Facility’s termination date is the earlier of (i) 364 days from December 23, 2020, the effective date (subject to the extension thereof pursuant to the 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement) and (ii) the date of termination in whole of the aggregate amount of the revolving commitments under the 364-Day Facility pursuant to the 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement. The 18-Month Facility’s termination date is the earlier of (i) 18 months from the effective date (subject to the extension thereof pursuant to the 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement) and (ii) the date of termination in whole of the aggregate amount of the revolving commitments under the 18-Month Facility pursuant to the 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement. As of August 31, 2021, there were no borrowings outstanding under the 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement. April 7, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement On April 7, 2020, the Company entered into a $500 million revolving credit agreement (the “April 7, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement”) with its subsidiary, WBA Financial Services Limited, a private limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (“WBAFSL”), and the lenders from time to time party thereto. The April 7, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement is a senior unsecured revolving credit facility, with a facility termination date of the earlier of (a) 364-days from April 7, 2020 and (b) the date of termination in whole of the aggregate amount of the commitments pursuant to the April 7, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement . The Company and WBAFSL are co-borrowers under the April 7, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the April 7, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement, the Company provides a guarantee of any obligations of WBAFSL under the April 7, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement. This revolving credit agreement was terminated in full on December 23, 2020. April 2020 Revolving Bilateral and Club Credit Agreements The Company entered into a $750 million revolving credit agreement on April 1, 2020 (the “April 2020 Revolving Bilateral Credit Agreement”) and a $1.325 billion revolving credit agreement on April 2, 2020 (the “April 2020 Revolving Club Credit Agreement” and together with the April 2020 Revolving Bilateral Credit Agreement, the “Other April 2020 Revolving Credit Agreements”) with the lenders from time to time party thereto. Each of the Other April 2020 Revolving Credit Agreements is a senior unsecured revolving credit facility, with a facility termination date of the earlier of (a) March 31, 2021 (which date shall be shortened pursuant to the terms of the applicable Other April 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement if the Company does not extend the maturity date of certain of its existing credit agreements or enter into new bank or bond financings with a certain maturity date and above an aggregate principal amount as described in the applicable Other April 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement ) and (b) the date of termination in whole of the aggregate amount of the commitments pursuant to the applicable Other April 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement. This revolving credit agreement was terminated in full on December 23, 2020. August 2019 Revolving Credit Agreements On August 30, 2019, the Company entered into three $500 million revolving credit agreements (together, the “August 2019 Revolving Credit Agreements” and each individually, an “August 2019 Revolving Credit Agreement”) with the lenders from time to time party thereto. Each of the August 2019 Revolving Credit Agreements are senior unsecured revolving credit facilities, with facility termination dates of the earlier of (a) 18 months following August 30, 2019, subject to extension thereof pursuant to the applicable August 2019 Revolving Credit Agreement and (b) the date of termination in whole of the aggregate amount of the commitments pursuant to the applicable August 2019 Revolving Credit Agreement. This revolving credit agreement was terminated in full on December 23, 2020. January 2019 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement On January 18, 2019, the Company entered into a $2.0 billion 364-day revolving credit agreement (as extended, the “January 2019 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement”) with the lenders from time to time party thereto. The January 2019 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement is a senior unsecured 364-day revolving credit facility, with an original facility termination date of 364 days following January 31, 2019, subject to extension. On December 18, 2019, the Company entered into an Extension Agreement (the “Extension Agreement”) relating to the January 2019 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement with the lenders party thereto and Mizuho, as administrative agent. The Extension Agreement extended the Maturity Date (as defined in the January 2019 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement) for an additional period of 364 days to January 28, 2021. Such extension became effective on January 30, 2020. The January 2019 364 Day Revolving Credit Agreement was partially terminated on December 23, 2020, reducing the amount available to $0.5 billion. The outstanding facility amount was terminated on January 28, 2021. A&R December 2018 Credit Agreement On December 5, 2018, the Company entered into a $1.0 billion term loan credit agreement with the lenders from time to time party thereto and, on August 9, 2019, the Company entered into an amendment to such credit agreement (such credit agreement as so amended, the “December 2018 Credit Agreement”) to permit the Company to borrow, repay and reborrow amounts borrowed thereunder prior to the maturity date. On April 2, 2020, the Company amended and restated the December 2018 Credit Agreement (such credit agreement as so amended and restated, the “A&R December 2018 Credit Agreement”). The A &R December 2018 Credit Agreement governs a $2.0 billion senior unsecured revolving credit facility, consisting of the initial $1.0 billion senior unsecured revolving facility previously governed by the December 2018 Credit Agreement and a new $1.0 billion senior unsecured revolving credit facility. The facility termination date is the earlier of (a) January 29, 2021 (which date shall be extended to February 26, 2021 or July 31, 2021 pursuant to the terms of the A &R December 2018 Credit Agreement if the Company extends the maturity date of certain of its existing credit agreements or enters into new bank or bond financings with a certain maturity date and above an aggregate principal amount as described in the A &R December 2018 Credit Agreement ) and (b) the date of termination in whole of the aggregate amount of the commitments pursuant to the A &R December 2018 Credit Agreement. The A&R December 2018 Credit Agreement was further amended on December 23, 2020 whereby the new facility was terminated in full and the existing facility matured in January 2021. Amended November 2018 Credit Agreement On November 30, 2018, the Company entered into a credit agreement with the lenders from time to time party thereto, on March 25, 2019, the Company entered into an amendment to such credit agreement (such credit agreement as so amended, the “November 2018 Credit Agreement”) reflecting certain changes to the borrowing notice provisions thereto, and on April 2, 2020, the Company entered into a second amendment to the November 2018 Credit Agreement (such credit agreement as so further amended, the “Amended November 2018 Credit Agreement”) which second amendment became effective as of May 29, 2020. As of May 29, 2020, the $500 million revolving credit facility portion of the November 2018 Credit Agreement was converted into a term loan facility, such that the Amended November 2018 Credit Agreement consists of a $1.0 billion senior unsecured term loan facility. The facility termination date is the earlier of (a) May 29, 2021 and (b) the date of acceleration of all loans under the Amended November 2018 Credit Agreement pursuant to its terms. The November 2018 Credit Agreement was repaid in full on April 23, 2021. August 2018 Revolving Credit Agreement On August 29, 2018, the Company entered into a revolving credit agreement (the “August 2018 Revolving Credit Agreement”) with the lenders and letter of credit issuers from time to time party thereto. The August 2018 Revolving Credit Agreement is an unsecured revolving credit facility with an aggregate commitment in the amount of $3.5 billion, with a letter of credit sub-facility commitment amount of $500 million. The facility termination date is the earlier of (a) August 29, 2023, subject to extension thereof pursuant to the August 2018 Revolving Credit Agreement and (b) the date of termination in whole of the aggregate amount of the revolving commitments pursuant to the August 2018 Revolving Credit Agreement. As of August 31, 2021, there were no borrowings outstanding under the August 2018 Revolving Credit Agreement. Debt covenants Each of the Company’s credit facilities described above contain a covenant to maintain, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, a ratio of consolidated debt to total capitalization not to exceed 0.60:1.00, subject to increase in certain circumstances set forth in the applicable credit agreement. The credit facilities contain various other customary covenants. Commercial paper The Company periodically borrows under its commercial paper program and may borrow under it in future periods. The Company had average daily commercial paper outstanding of $1.9 billion at a weighted average interest rate of 0.45% for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021. The Company had average daily commercial paper outstanding of $2.5 billion at a weighted average interest rate of 2.15% for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020. As of August 31, 2021, there were no borrowings outstanding under the commercial paper program. A subsidiary of the Company borrowed under the Joint HM Treasury and Bank of England's COVID Corporate Financing Facility commercial paper program, for average daily commercial paper outstanding, until paid, of £300 million or approximately $424 million at a weighted average interest rate of 0.43% during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021. The subsidiary of the Company repaid the commercial paper issued on May 14, 2021. Interest Interest paid by the Company was $916 million in fiscal 2021, $584 million in fiscal 2020 and $676 million in fiscal 2019. Interest paid in the twelve months ended August 31, 2021 of $916 million includes charges on early extinguishment of debt of $387 million.

Financial instruments

Financial instruments	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Financial instruments	Financial instruments The Company uses derivative instruments to hedge its exposure to market risks, including interest rate and currency risks, arising from operating and financing risks. The Company has non-U.S. dollar denominated net investments and uses foreign currency denominated financial instruments, specifically foreign currency derivatives and foreign currency denominated debt, to hedge its foreign currency risk. The notional amounts and fair value of derivative instruments outstanding were as follows (in millions): August 31, 2021 Notional Fair value Location in Consolidated Balance Sheets Derivatives designated as hedges : Cross currency interest rate swaps $ 155 $ 1 Other non-current assets Foreign currency forwards 6 — Other non-current assets Foreign currency forwards 23 1 Other non-current liabilities Cross currency interest rate swaps 801 23 Other non-current liabilities Foreign currency forwards 575 7 Other current assets Foreign currency forwards 31 1 Other current liabilities Cross currency interest rate swaps 109 9 Other current liabilities Derivatives not designated as hedges : Foreign currency forwards $ 3,636 $ 38 Other current assets Total return swap 224 2 Other current assets Foreign currency forwards 808 3 Other current liabilities Total return swap 37 — Other current liabilities August 31, 2020 Notional Fair value Location in Consolidated Balance Sheets Derivatives designated as hedges : Cross currency interest rate swaps $ 722 $ 16 Other non-current assets Foreign currency forwards 49 1 Other non-current liabilities Cross currency interest rate swaps 318 13 Other non-current liabilities Interest rate swaps 1,000 10 Other non-current liabilities Foreign currency forwards 100 1 Other current assets Cross currency interest rate swaps 50 — Other current assets Foreign currency forwards 671 23 Other current liabilities Cross currency interest rate swaps 103 3 Other current liabilities Derivatives not designated as hedges : Foreign currency forwards $ 1,930 $ 19 Other current assets Foreign currency forwards 2,934 56 Other current liabilities Total return swap 205 1 Other current liabilities Net investment hedges The Company uses cross currency interest rate swaps as hedges and foreign currency forward contracts to hedge net investments in subsidiaries with non-U.S. dollar functional currencies. For qualifying net investment hedges, changes in the fair value of the derivatives are recorded in the currency translation adjustment within accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Cash flow hedges From time to time the Company uses interest rate swaps to hedge the variability in forecasted cash flows of certain floating-rate debt. For qualifying cash flow hedges, changes in the fair value of the derivatives are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), and released to the Consolidated Statements of Earnings when the hedged cash flows affect earnings. Derivatives not designated as hedges The Company enters into derivative transactions that are not designated as accounting hedges. These derivative instruments are economic hedges of foreign currency risks. The Company also utilizes total return swaps to economically hedge variability in compensation charges related to certain deferred compensation obligations. The income and (expense) due to changes in fair value of these derivative instruments were recognized in earnings as follows (in millions): Location in Consolidated Statements of Earnings 2021 2020 2019 Foreign currency forwards Selling, general and administrative expense $ (75) $ (63) $ 139 Total return swap Selling, general and administrative expense 58 24 — Foreign currency forwards Other income (expense) (8) 11 (18) Derivatives credit risk Counterparties to derivative financial instruments expose the Company to credit-related losses in the event of counterparty nonperformance, and the Company regularly monitors the credit worthiness of each counterparty. Derivatives offsetting The Company does not offset the fair value amounts of derivative instruments subject to master netting agreements in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Fair value measurements

Fair value measurements	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair value measurements	Fair value measurements The Company measures certain assets and liabilities in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, which defines fair value as the price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. In addition, it establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes observable and unobservable inputs used to measure fair value into three broad Levels: Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical assets and liabilities. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs. Level 2 - Observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets. Level 3 - Unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market data available. The fair value hierarchy gives the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs. Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows (in millions): August 31, 2021 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Assets: Money market funds 1 $ 634 $ 634 $ — $ — Investments in equity securities 2 2 2 — — Investments in debt securities 3 663 — — 663 Foreign currency forwards 4 46 — 46 — Cross currency interest rate swaps 5 1 — 1 — Total return swaps 2 — 2 — Liabilities : Foreign currency forwards 4 $ 5 $ — $ 5 $ — Cross currency interest rate swaps 5 32 — 32 — August 31, 2020 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Assets: Money market funds¹ $ 6 $ 6 $ — $ — Investments in equity securities² 1 1 — — Foreign currency forwards 4 20 — 20 — Cross Currency interest rate swaps 5 16 — 16 — Liabilities : Foreign currency forwards 4 $ 80 $ — $ 80 $ — Cross currency interest rate swaps 5 16 — 16 — Interest rate swaps 5 10 — 10 — Total return swap 1 — 1 — 1 Money market funds are valued at the closing price reported by the fund sponsor. 2 Fair values of quoted investments are based on current bid prices as of August 31, 2021 and 2020. 3 Level 3 debt securities include investments in convertible debt securities of VillageMD which are valued on a quarterly basis using the Probability Weighted Expect Return Method with gains or losses recorded in Other Comprehensive Income. Inputs include the enterprise value, expected holding term of the investment, volatility and risk-free interest rates. 4 The fair value of forward currency contracts is estimated by discounting the difference between the contractual forward price and the current available forward price for the residual maturity of the contract using observable market rates. See Note 9 Financial instruments, for additional information. 5 The fair value of interest rate swaps and cross currency interest rate swaps is calculated by discounting the estimated future cash flows based on the applicable observable yield curves. See Note 9 Financial instruments, for additional information. There were no transfers between Levels in fiscal 2021 or 2020. The carrying value of the Company's commercial paper and credit facilities approximated their respective fair values due to their short-term nature. The Company reports its debt instruments under the guidance of ASC Topic 825, Financial Instruments, which requires disclosure of the fair value of the Company’s debt in the footnotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. As of August 31, 2021, the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long term notes outstanding including the current portion were $8.9 billion and $9.8 billion, respectively. The fair values of the notes outstanding are Level 1 fair value measures and determined based on quoted market price and translated at the August 31, 2021 rate, as applicable. The fair values and carrying values of these issuances do not include notes that have been redeemed or repaid as of August 31, 2021. See Note 8 Debt, for further information. The carrying values of accounts receivable and trade accounts payable approximated their respective fair values due to their short-term nature.

Commitments and contingencies

Commitments and contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and contingencies	Commitments and contingencies The Company is involved in legal proceedings, including litigation, arbitration and other claims, and investigations, inspections, subpoenas, audits, claims, inquiries and similar actions by pharmacy, healthcare, tax and other governmental authorities, arising in the normal course of the Company’s business, including the matters described below. Legal proceedings, in general, and securities, class action and multi-district litigation, in particular, can be expensive and disruptive. Some of these suits may purport or may be determined to be class actions and/or involve parties seeking large and/or indeterminate amounts, including punitive or exemplary damages, and may remain unresolved for several years. From time to time, the Company is also involved in legal proceedings as a plaintiff involving antitrust, tax, contract, intellectual property and other matters. Gain contingencies, if any, are recognized when they are realized. Like other companies in the retail pharmacy and pharmaceutical wholesale industries, the Company is subject to extensive regulation by national, state and local government agencies in the U.S. and other countries in which it operates. There continues to be a heightened level of review and/or audit by regulatory authorities of, and increased litigation regarding, the Company’s and the rest of the health care and related industry’s business, compliance and reporting practices. As a result, the Company regularly is the subject of government actions of the types described above. The Company also may be named from time to time in qui tam actions initiated by private third parties. In such actions, the private parties purport to act on behalf of federal or state governments, allege that false claims have been submitted for payment by the government and may receive an award if their claims are successful. After a private party has filed a qui tam action, the government must investigate the private party's claim and determine whether to intervene in and take control over the litigation. These actions may remain under seal while the government makes this determination. If the government declines to intervene, the private party may nonetheless continue to pursue the litigation on his or her own purporting to act on behalf of the government. The results of legal proceedings, including government investigations, are often uncertain and difficult to predict, and the costs incurred in these matters can be substantial, regardless of the outcome. With respect to litigation and other legal proceedings where the Company has determined that a material loss is reasonably possible, the Company is unable to estimate the amount or range of reasonably possible loss due to the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of and uncertainties regarding such litigation and legal proceedings. The Company believes that its defenses and assertions in pending legal proceedings have merit and does not believe that any of these pending matters, after consideration of applicable reserves and rights to indemnification, will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position. However, substantial unanticipated verdicts, fines and rulings do sometimes occur. As a result, the Company could from time to time incur judgments, enter into settlements or revise its expectations regarding the outcome of certain matters, and such developments could have a material adverse effect on its results of operations in the period in which the amounts are accrued and/or its cash flows in the period in which the amounts are paid. In addition, as a result of governmental investigations or proceedings, the Company may be subject to damages, civil or criminal fines or penalties, or other sanctions, including the possible suspension or loss of licensure and/or suspension or exclusion from participation in government programs. On December 29, 2014, a putative shareholder filed a derivative action in federal court in the Northern District of Illinois against certain current and former directors and officers of Walgreen Co. and Walgreen Co., as a nominal defendant, arising out of certain public statements the Company made regarding its former fiscal 2016 goals. ( Cutler v. Wasson et al. , No. 1:14-cv-10408 (N.D. Ill.)) The action asserts claims for breach of fiduciary duty, waste and unjust enrichment. On May 18, 2015, the case was stayed in light of a securities class action that was filed on April 10, 2015, described below. On November 3, 2016, the Court entered a stipulation and order extending the stay until the resolution of the securities class action. On April 10, 2015, a putative shareholder filed a securities class action in federal court in the Northern District of Illinois against Walgreen Co. and certain former officers of Walgreen Co. ( Washtenaw County Employees’ Retirement System v. Walgreen Co. et al. , No. 1:15-cv-3187 (N.D. Ill.)) The action asserts claims for violation of the federal securities laws arising out of certain public statements the Company made regarding its former fiscal 2016 goals. A motion to dismiss a consolidated class action complaint filed on August 17, 2015 was granted in part and denied in part on September 30, 2016. The court granted plaintiff’s motion for class certification on March 29, 2018 and plaintiff filed a first amended complaint on December 19, 2018. A motion to dismiss the first amended complaint was granted in part and denied in part on September 23, 2019. Fact discovery and expert discovery have concluded. Motions for summary judgment have been fully briefed. On December 11, 2017, purported Rite Aid shareholders filed an amended complaint in a putative class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania (the “M.D. Pa. action”) arising out of transactions contemplated by the merger agreement between the Company and Rite Aid. The amended complaint alleged that the Company and certain of its officers made false or misleading statements regarding the transactions. The Court denied the Company’s motion to dismiss the amended complaint on April 15, 2019. The Company filed an answer and affirmative defenses, and the Court granted plaintiffs' motion for class certification. Fact discovery is ongoing. In October and December 2020, two separate purported Rite Aid Shareholders filed lawsuits in the same court as the M.D. Pa. action opting out of the class in the M.D. Pa. action making nearly identical allegations as those in the M.D. Pa. action (the “Direct Actions”). On December 24, 2020, the parties to the Direct Actions filed a joint stipulation to stay the Direct Actions until the earlier of (a) 30 days after the entry of an order resolving any pre-trial dispositive motions in the M.D. Pa. action, or (b) 30 days after the entry of an order of final approval of any settlement of the M.D. Pa. action. The court so ordered the joint stipulation on December 28, 2020. In June 2019, a Fred’s, Inc. shareholder filed a nearly identical lawsuit to the M.D. Pa. action in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, except naming Fred’s, Inc. and one of its former officers along with the Company and certain of its officers. Lead plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on November 4, 2019, which is substantially the same as the original complaint. The court granted the Company's motion to dismiss to the amended complaint on March 31, 2021. In December 2017, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidated numerous cases filed against an array of defendants by various plaintiffs such as counties, cities, hospitals, Indian tribes, and others, alleging claims generally concerning the impacts of widespread opioid abuse. The consolidated multidistrict litigation, captioned In re National Prescription Opiate Litigation (MDL No. 2804, Case No. 17-md-2804), is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio ("N.D. Ohio"). The Company is involved in the following multidistrict litigation (MDL) bellwether cases: (1) two consolidated cases in N.D. Ohio ( Cnty. of Summit, Ohio, et al v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al. , Case No. 18-op-45090; Cnty. of Cuyahoga, Ohio, et al. v. Purdue Pharma L.P. , Case No. 18-op-45004), previously scheduled for trial in November 2020 but postponed indefinitely; (2) one remanded to the U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma ( The Cherokee Nation v. McKesson Corp., et al. , Case No. 18-CV-00056-RAW-SPS), scheduled for trial in September 2022; (3) one remanded to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ( City and Cnty. of San Francisco, et al. v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al. , Case No. 3:18-cv-07591-CRB), originally scheduled for trial in October 2021, but rescheduled for April 2022; and (4) two additional consolidated cases in N.D. Ohio ( Cnty. of Lake, Ohio v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al. , Case No. 18-op-45032; Cnty. of Trumbull, Ohio v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al. , Case No. 18-op-45079), initially scheduled for trial in May 2021 but continued until October 2021. In April 2021, the MDL court selected five additional bellwether cases involving the Company, all currently pending in N.D. Ohio: (1) Cobb Cnty. v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al. , Case No. 18-op-45817; (2) Durham Cnty. v. AmerisourceBergen Drug Corp., et al. , Case No. 19-op-45346; (3) Montgomery Cnty. Bd. of Cnty. Commrs., et al. v. Cardinal Health, Inc., et al. , Case No. 18-op-46326; (4) Board of Cnty. Commrs. of the Cnty. of Santa Fe v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al. , Case No. 18-op-45776; and (5) Cnty. of Tarrant v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al. , Case No. 18-op-45274. The Company also has been named as a defendant in numerous lawsuits brought in state courts relating to opioid matters. Trial dates have been set in cases pending in state courts in New Mexico ( State of New Mexico, ex rel. Hector Balderas, Attorney General v. Purdue Ph arma L.P., et al., Case No. D-101-cv-2017-02541, First Judicial District Court, Santa Fe County, New Mexico - September 2022); West Virginia (State of West Virginia, ex rel. Patrick Morrisey, Attorney General v. Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., et al., Civil Action No.20-C-82 PNM, Circuit Court of Kanawha County, West Virginia, - September 2022; Missouri ( Jefferson County, Missouri v. Dannie E. Williams, M.D., et al. , Cause No. 20JE-CC00029, Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit, Jefferson County, Missouri - April 2023); Florida ( State of Florida, Office of the Attorney General, Department of Legal Affairs v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al. , Case No. 2018-CA-001438, Sixth Judicial Circuit in and for Pasco County, Florida - April 2022); Nevada ( State of Nevada v. McKesson Corporation, et al. , Case No. A-19-796755-B, Eighth Judicial District Court, Clark County, Nevada - January 2023); Michigan ( State of Michigan, ex rel. Dana Nessel, Attorney General v. Cardinal Health, Inc. , et al., Case No. 19-016896-NZ, Circuit Court for Wayne County, Michigan - October 2022); and Alabama ( The DCH Health Care Authority, et al. v. Purdue Pharma LP, et al. , Cause No. CV-2019-000007.00, Circuit Court of Conecuh County, Alabama - July 2022). Two consolidated cases in New York state court ( County of Suffolk v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al. , Index No. 400001/2017; County of Nassau v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., Index No. 400008/2017, Supreme Court of the State of New York, Suffolk County, New York) were resolved as to the Company after jury selection began in June 2021. The relief sought by various plaintiffs in these matters includes compensatory, abatement and punitive damages, as well as injunctive relief. Additionally, the Company has received from the Department of Justice and the Attorney Generals of numerous states subpoenas, civil investigative demands, and/or other requests concerning opioid matters. The Company has also had communications with the Department of Justice with respect to purported violations of the federal Controlled Substances Act and the federal False Claims Act in dispensing prescriptions at certain Walgreens locations. As discussed above, legal proceedings, including government investigations, are often uncertain and difficult to predict, and the costs and penalties incurred in these matters can be substantial.

Income taxes

Income taxes	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income taxes	Income taxes U.S. tax law changes During 2019, the U.S. Treasury Department issued regulations to apply retroactively covering certain components of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Certain guidance included in these regulations is inconsistent with the Company’s interpretation that led to the recognition of $247 million of tax benefits in prior periods. The tax benefits relate to the Company’s one-time transition tax on certain un-repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries, which was enacted as part of the 2017 U.S. tax law changes. Despite this guidance, the Company remains confident in its interpretation of the U.S. tax law changes and intends to defend this position through litigation, if necessary. However, if the Company is ultimately unsuccessful in defending its position, it may be required to reverse all or a portion of the benefits previously recorded. UK tax law changes On June 10, 2021 the UK Finance Act 2021 was enacted increasing the UK tax rate from 19% to 25% effective April 1, 2023. The Company recorded tax expense of $344 million from re-measuring the net UK deferred tax liability in fiscal 2021. On July 22, 2020 the UK Finance Bill 2020 was enacted increasing the UK tax rate from 17% to 19% effective April 1, 2020. The Company recorded tax expense of $139 million from re-measuring the net UK deferred tax liability in fiscal 2020. The components of earnings from continuing operations before income tax provision were (in millions): 2021 2020 2019 U.S. $ 61 $ 759 $ 1,898 Non–U.S. 1,934 (313) 2,461 Total $ 1,995 $ 446 $ 4,359 The provision for income taxes from continuing operations consists of the following (in millions): 2021 2020 2019 Current provision Federal $ 79 $ 184 $ 228 State 115 49 46 Non–U.S. 234 135 183 $ 428 $ 368 $ 457 Deferred provision Federal $ (10) $ (83) $ 151 State (46) 2 4 Non–U.S. – tax law change 344 139 — Non–U.S. – excluding tax law change (49) (87) (35) 239 (29) 120 Income tax provision $ 667 $ 339 $ 577 The difference between the statutory federal income tax rate and the effective tax rate from continuing operations is as follows: 2021 2020 2019 Federal statutory rate 21.0 % 21.0 % 21.0 % State income taxes, net of federal benefit 3.5 8.8 0.9 Foreign income taxed at non-U.S. rates (4.4) (17.0) (1.9) Non-taxable income (5.0) (47.5) (3.6) Non-deductible expenses 0.3 9.0 0.2 Tax law changes 17.3 31.3 (0.4) Change in valuation allowance 1 (4.7) 4.1 2.1 Tax benefits from restructuring (4.2) — — Tax expense on non-operating equity earnings 6.1 — — Uncertain tax positions 6.2 7.5 (0.8) Goodwill impairment — 72.5 — Tax credits (1.8) (10.3) (4.4) Other (0.9) (3.4) 0.1 Effective income tax rate 33.4 % 76.0 % 13.2 % 1 Net of changes in related tax attributes and tax benefits from capital losses generated and utilized in FY21. The deferred tax assets and liabilities included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of the following (in millions): 2021 2020 Deferred tax assets: Compensation and benefits $ 175 $ 176 Postretirement benefits — 88 Insurance 103 98 Accrued rent & lease obligations 5,372 5,187 Allowance for doubtful accounts 34 9 Tax attributes 7,467 6,781 Stock compensation 88 47 Deferred income 34 18 Other — 50 $ 13,273 $ 12,454 Less: valuation allowance 7,239 6,490 Total deferred tax assets $ 6,034 $ 5,964 Deferred tax liabilities: Accelerated depreciation $ 896 $ 683 Inventory 377 345 Intangible assets 1,465 1,130 Equity method investment 236 542 Lease right-of-use asset 4,792 4,589 Other 30 — Total deferred tax liabilities 7,796 7,289 Net deferred tax liabilities $ 1,762 $ 1,325 As of August 31, 2021, the Company has recorded deferred tax assets for tax attributes of $7.5 billion, primarily reflecting the benefit of $670 million in U.S. federal, $75 million in state and $6.6 billion in non-U.S. ordinary and capital losses. In addition, these deferred tax assets include $97 million of income tax credits. Of these deferred tax assets, $7.1 billion will expire at various dates from 2022 through 2038. The residual deferred tax assets of $398 million have no expiration date. The Company believes it is more likely than not that the benefit from certain deferred tax assets will not be realized. The assessment of realization of deferred tax assets is performed based on the weight of the positive and negative evidence available to indicate whether the asset is recoverable, including tax planning strategies that are prudent and feasible. In recognition of this risk, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance of $7.2 billion against those deferred tax assets as of August 31, 2021. Income taxes paid, net of refunds were $336 million, $626 million and $893 million for fiscal years 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, provides guidance regarding the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure in the financial statement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return, including the decision whether to file in a particular jurisdiction. As of August 31, 2021, unrecognized tax benefits of $594 million were reported as long-term liabilities, $475 million were reported against deferred taxes, and $114 million were reported against related tax receivables in other non-current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These amounts include interest and penalties, when applicable. The following table provides a reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits (in millions): 2021 2020 2019 Balance at beginning of year $ 494 $ 455 $ 456 Gross increases related to tax positions in a prior period 229 60 33 Gross decreases related to tax positions in a prior period (52) (23) (53) Gross increases related to tax positions in the current period 446 9 26 Settlements with taxing authorities (13) (4) (2) Lapse of statute of limitations (6) (3) (5) Balance at end of year $ 1,098 $ 494 $ 455 At August 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, $524 million, $353 million and $311 million, respectively, of unrecognized tax benefits would favorably impact the effective tax rate if recognized. During the next twelve months, based on current knowledge, it is reasonably possible the amount of unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by up to $132 million due to anticipated federal tax audit settlements and the expirations of statutes of limitations associated with tax positions related to multiple state tax jurisdictions. The Company recognizes interest and penalties in the income tax provision in its Consolidated Statements of Earnings. At August 31, 2021 and August 31, 2020, the Company had accrued interest and penalties of $84 million and $58 million, respectively. For the year ended August 31, 2021, and August 31, 2020, the amount reported in income tax expense related to interest and penalties was $26 million and $11 million income tax expense, respectively. The Company files a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return as well as income tax returns in various states and multiple foreign jurisdictions. It is generally no longer under audit examinations for U.S. federal income tax purposes for any years prior to fiscal 2014. With few exceptions, it is no longer subject to state and local income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before fiscal 2008. In foreign tax jurisdictions, the Company is generally no longer subject to examination by the tax authorities in the UK prior to 2015, Luxembourg prior to 2016 and in Germany prior to 2014. The Company has received tax holidays from Swiss cantonal income taxes relative to certain of its Swiss operations. The income tax holidays are set to expire in September 2022. Upon expiration, a reduced tax rate will extend through December 2029. The holidays had a beneficial impact of $118 million and $124 million (inclusive of capital GILTI tax cost) during fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively. This benefit is primarily included as part of the foreign income taxed at non-U.S. rates line in the effective tax rate reconciliation table above. At August 31, 2021, it is not practicable for the Company to determine the amount of the unrecognized deferred tax liability it has with respect to temporary differences related to investments in foreign subsidiaries and foreign corporate joint ventures that are essentially permanent in duration.

Stock compensation plans

Stock compensation plans	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]
Stock compensation plans	Stock compensation plans In fiscal 2021, the Company's Board of Directors approved the Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2021 Omnibus Plan”). The 2021 Omnibus Plan replicates the Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan and provides incentive compensation to the Company’s non-employee directors, officers and other eligible employees. The Company grants stock options, performance shares and restricted units under the 2021 Omnibus Plan. Performance shares issued under the 2021 Omnibus Plan offer performance-based incentive awards to certain employees. Restricted stock units are also equity-based awards with vesting requirements that are granted to key employees. The performance shares and restricted stock unit awards are both subject to restrictions as to continuous employment except in the case of death, normal retirement or total and permanent disability. Total stock-based compensation expense for fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019 was $155 million, $137 million and $119 million, respectively. Unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested awards at August 31, 2021 was $151 million, which will be fully recognized over the next three years.

Retirement benefits

Retirement benefits	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Retirement benefits	Retirement benefits The Company sponsors several retirement plans, including defined benefit plans, defined contribution plans and a postretirement health plan. Defined benefit pension plans (non-U.S. plans) The Company has various defined benefit pension plans outside the U.S. The principal defined benefit pension plan is the Boots Pension Plan (the “Boots Plan”), which covers certain employees in the UK. The Boots Plan is a funded final salary defined benefit plan providing pensions and death benefits to members. The Boots Plan was closed to future accrual effective July 1, 2010, with pensions calculated based on salaries up until that date. The Boots Plan is governed by a trustee board, which is independent of the Company. The plan is subject to a full funding actuarial valuation on a triennial basis. The investment strategy of the principal defined benefit pension plan is to hold the majority of its assets in a diverse portfolio ("Matching Portfolio") which aims to broadly match the characteristics of the plan’s liabilities by investing in bonds, derivatives and other fixed income assets, with the remainder invested in predominantly return-seeking assets. Interest rate and inflation rate swaps are also employed to complement the role of fixed and index-linked bond holdings in liability risk management. The following tables present classes of defined benefit pension plan assets by fair value hierarchy (in millions): August 31, 2021 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Equity securities : Equity securities 1 $ 1,316 $ — $ 1,316 $ — Debt securities: Fixed interest government bonds 2 514 101 412 — Index linked government bonds 2 3,521 3,486 35 — Corporate bonds 3 2,851 1 2,850 — Real estate: Real estate 4 513 — — 513 Other : Other investments, net 5 1,761 107 1,024 629 Total $ 10,475 $ 3,696 $ 5,637 $ 1,142 August 31, 2020 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Equity securities : Equity securities 1 $ 1,505 $ — $ 1,505 $ — Debt securities: Fixed interest government bonds 2 515 111 404 — Index linked government bonds 2 4,168 2,936 1,232 — Corporate bonds 3 2,730 1 2,729 — Real estate: Real estate 4 492 — — 492 Other : Other investments, net 5 204 152 (347) 399 Total $ 9,614 $ 3,200 $ 5,523 $ 891 1 Equity securities, which mainly comprise of investments in commingled funds, are valued based on quoted prices and are primarily exchange-traded. Securities for which official close or last trade pricing on an active exchange is available are classified as Level 1 investments. If closing prices are not available, or the investments are in a commingled fund, securities are valued at the last quoted bid price and typically are categorized as Level 2 investments. 2 Debt securities: government bonds comprise of fixed interest and index linked bonds issued by central governments and are valued based on quotes received from independent pricing services or from dealers who make markets in such securities. Pricing services utilize pricing which considers readily available inputs such as the yield or price of bonds of comparable quality, coupon, maturity and type, as well as dealer-supplied prices. 3 Debt securities: corporate bonds comprise bonds issued by corporations in both segregated and commingled funds and are valued using recently executed transactions, or quoted market prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, or for identical assets and liabilities in markets that are not active. If there have been no market transactions in a particular fixed income security, its fair value is calculated by pricing models that benchmark the security against other securities with actual market prices. 4 Real estate comprise of investments in certain property funds which are valued based on the underlying properties. These properties are valued using a number of standard industry techniques such as cost, discounted cash flows, independent appraisals and market based comparable data. Real estate investments are categorized as Level 3 investments. Changes in Level 3 investments during fiscal 2021 were driven by actual return on plan assets still held at August 31, 2021 and purchases during the year. 5 Other investments mainly comprise of net receivable (payable) amounts for unsettled transactions, cash and cash equivalents, derivatives, insurance linked securities and direct private placements. Cash is categorized as a Level 1 investment and cash in commingled funds is categorized as Level 2 investments. Amounts receivable (payable) are categorized as level 2 investments. Cash equivalents are valued using observable yield curves, discounting and interest rates and are categorized as Level 2 investments. Derivatives which are exchange-traded and for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last reported sale price or official closing price as reported by an independent pricing service on the primary market, or exchange on which they are traded, and are categorized as Level 1 investments. Over-the-counter derivatives typically are valued by independent pricing services and are categorized as Level 2 investments. Insurance lined securities are categorized as Level 2. Direct private placements are typically bonds valued by reference to comparable bonds and are categorized as Level 3 investments. Changes in Level 3 investments during fiscal 2021 were primarily driven by purchases during the year. Components of net periodic pension costs for the defined benefit pension plans and cumulative pre-tax amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss are as follows (in millions): Boots and other pension plans 2021 2020 2019 Service costs (Selling, general and administrative expenses) $ 6 $ 2 $ 2 Interest costs (Other income) 139 141 195 Expected returns on plan assets/other (Other income) (332) (285) (245) Total net periodic pension (income) cost $ (188) $ (142) $ (48) Net actuarial (gain) loss $ (506) $ 856 $ 90 Prior service cost (1) (1) 24 Total pre-tax comprehensive (income) expense $ (507) $ 855 $ 114 Change in benefit obligations for the defined benefit pension plans (in millions): 2021 2020 Benefit obligation at beginning of year $ 9,905 $ 8,795 Service costs 6 2 Interest costs 139 141 Settlements (2) — Net actuarial loss 75 491 Benefits paid (320) (330) Acquisitions 182 — Currency translation adjustments 223 806 Benefit obligation at end of year $ 10,206 $ 9,905 Change in plan assets for the defined benefit pension plans (in millions): 2021 2020 Plan assets at fair value at beginning of year $ 9,614 $ 9,131 Employer contributions 53 35 Benefits paid (320) (330) Return on assets/other 906 (31) Settlements (2) — Currency translation adjustments 223 810 Plan assets at fair value at end of year $ 10,475 $ 9,614 Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions): 2021 2020 Other non-current assets $ 602 $ — Accrued expenses and other liabilities (9) (6) Other non-current liabilities (324) (285) Net asset (liability) recognized at end of year $ 269 $ (291) The projected benefit obligation, accumulated benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets for all pension plans, including accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets, at August 31 were as follows (in millions): 2021 2020 Projected benefit obligation $ 10,206 $ 9,905 Accumulated benefit obligation 10,200 9,901 Fair value of plan assets 1 10,475 9,614 1 Represents plan assets of The Boots plan, the Company's only funded defined benefit pension plan. Estimated future benefit payments for the next 10 years from defined benefit pension plans to participants are as follows (in millions): Estimated future benefit payments 2022 $ 291 2023 302 2024 311 2025 326 2026 344 2027-2031 1,868 The assumptions used in accounting for the defined benefit pension plans were as follows: 2021 2020 Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations Discount rate 1.71 % 1.63 % Rate of compensation increase 2.80 % 3.10 % Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost Discount rate 1.39 % 1.58 % Expected long-term return on plan assets 3.50 % 3.10 % Rate of compensation increase 2.77 % 2.91 % Based on current actuarial estimates, the Company plans to make contributions of $41 million to its defined benefit pension plans in fiscal 2022 and expects to make contributions beyond 2022, which will vary based upon many factors, including the performance of the defined benefit pension plan assets. Defined contribution plans The principal retirement plan for U.S. employees is the Walgreen Profit-Sharing Retirement Trust, to which both the Company and participating employees contribute. The Company’s contribution is in the form of a guaranteed match which is made pursuant to the applicable plan document approved by the Walgreen Co. Board of Directors. Plan activity is reviewed periodically by certain Committees of the Walgreens Boots Alliance Board of Directors. The profit-sharing provision was an expense of $221 million, $227 million and $239 million in fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company’s contributions were $222 million, $226 million and $234 million in fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company also has certain contract based defined contribution arrangements. The principal one is the UK based to which both the Company and participating employees contribute. The cost recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings was $101 million, $91 million and $101 million in fiscal 2021, fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019, respectively. Postretirement healthcare plan The Company provides certain health insurance benefits to retired U.S. employees who meet eligibility requirements, including age, years of service and date of hire. The costs of these benefits are accrued over the service life of the employee. The Company’s postretirement health benefit plan obligation was $154 million and $182 million in fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively and is not funded. The expected benefit to be paid net of the estimated federal subsidy during fiscal 2022 is $9.5 million.

Capital stock

Capital stock	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Capital Stock [Abstract]
Capital stock	Capital stock In June 2018, Walgreens Boots Alliance authorized a stock repurchase program (the “June 2018 stock repurchase program”), which authorized the repurchase of up to $10.0 billion of the Company's common stock, which program has no specified expiration date. The Company purchased 30 million shares under the June 2018 stock repurchase program in fiscal 2020 at a cost of $1.5 billion. In July 2020, the Company announced that it had suspended activities under this program and no shares were repurchased in fiscal 2021. As of August 31, 2021, the Company had approximately $2.0 billion remaining under the June 2018 stock repurchase program. The Company determines the timing and amount of repurchases based on its assessment of various factors including prevailing market conditions, alternate uses of capital, liquidity, the economic environment and other factors. The timing and amount of these purchases may change at any time and from time to time. The Company has repurchased, and may from time to time in the future repurchase, shares on the open market through Rule 10b5-1 plans, which enable a company to repurchase shares at times when it otherwise might be precluded from doing so under insider trading laws.

Accumulated other comprehensive

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) The following is a summary of net changes in accumulated other comprehensive income by component and net of tax for fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019 (in millions): Pension/post-retirement obligations Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges Net investment hedges Unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities Share of AOCI of equity method investments Cumulative translation adjustments Total Balance at August 31, 2018 $ 101 $ (30) $ — $ — $ 3 $ (3,076) $ (3,002) Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments (162) 1 73 — (1) (801) (889) Amounts reclassified from AOCI (17) 5 — — — — (12) Tax benefit (provision) 30 (1) (18) — — (6) 5 Net change in other comprehensive income (loss) (149) 5 55 — (1) (807) (896) Balance at August 31, 2019 $ (48) $ (24) $ 55 $ — $ 3 $ (3,884) $ (3,897) Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments (861) (12) (113) — (16) 934 (69) Amounts reclassified from AOCI (8) 5 — — — 3 — Tax benefit (provision) 169 1 23 — 3 (1) 195 Net change in other comprehensive income (loss) (700) (6) (90) — (13) 936 126 Balance at August 31, 2020 $ (748) $ (31) $ (34) $ — $ (10) $ (2,948) $ (3,771) Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments 532 10 (6) 127 (24) 384 1,022 Amounts reclassified from AOCI (8) 17 — — — (3) 6 Business disposal (4) — — 0 — 0 — 795 792 Tax benefit (provision) (132) (6) 6 (31) 6 — (157) Net change in other comprehensive income (loss) 389 21 (1) 96 (18) 1,176 1,663 Balance at August 31, 2021 $ (359) $ (10) $ (35) $ 96 $ (29) $ (1,772) $ (2,109)

Segment reporting

Segment reporting	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Segment reporting	Segment reporting On January 6, 2021, the Company entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with AmerisourceBergen. Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Share Purchase Agreement, AmerisourceBergen agreed to purchase the majority of the Company's Alliance Healthcare business as well as a portion of the Company’s retail pharmacy international businesses in Europe. The majority of the Disposal Group was previously included in the Pharmaceutical Wholesale segment. Effective as of the second quarter of fiscal year ended August 31, 2021, the Company eliminated the Pharmaceutical Wholesale segment and is aligned into two reportable segments: United States and International. The operating segments have been identified based on the financial data utilized by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (the chief operating decision maker) to assess segment performance and allocate resources among the Company’s operating segments. The chief operating decision maker uses adjusted operating income to assess segment profitability. The chief operating decision maker does not use total assets by segment to make decisions regarding resources; therefore, the total asset disclosure by segment has not been included. United States The Company's United States segment includes the Company's Walgreens business which includes the operations of retail drugstores, health and wellness services, and mail and central specialty pharmacy services, and the Company's equity method investment in AmerisourceBergen. Sales for the segment are principally derived from the sale of prescription drugs and a wide assortment of retail products, including health and wellness, beauty, personal care and consumables and general merchandise. International The Company's International segment consists of pharmacy-led health and beauty retail businesses outside the U.S. and pharmaceutical wholesaling and distribution business in Germany. Pharmacy-led health and beauty retail businesses include Boots branded stores in the UK, the Republic of Ireland and Thailand, the Benavides brand in Mexico and the Ahumada brand in Chile. Sales for these businesses are principally derived from the sale of prescription drugs and health and wellness, beauty, personal care and other consumer products. The results of operations for reportable segments include procurement benefits. Corporate-related overhead costs are not allocated to reportable segments and are reported in the “Corporate and Other”. The following table reflects results of operations of the Company's reportable segments (in millions): For the years ending August 31, 2021 2020 2019 Sales: United States $ 112,005 $ 107,701 $ 104,532 International 20,505 14,281 15,542 Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. $ 132,509 $ 121,982 $ 120,074 Adjusted Operating income: United States $ 5,019 $ 4,761 $ 5,873 International 466 157 759 Corporate and Other (368) (187) (152) Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. $ 5,117 $ 4,730 $ 6,481 Depreciation and amortization: United States $ 1,513 $ 1,376 $ 1,454 International 399 400 433 Corporate and Other 11 10 8 Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. $ 1,923 $ 1,786 $ 1,894 Capital expenditures: United States $ 1,030 $ 1,040 $ 1,318 International 243 235 272 Corporate and Other 39 12 8 Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. $ 1,312 $ 1,287 $ 1,598 The following table reconciles adjusted operating income to operating income (in millions): For the years ending August 31, 2021 2020 2019 Adjusted operating income $ 5,117 $ 4,730 $ 6,481 Adjustments to equity earnings (loss) in AmerisourceBergen (1,645) (97) (233) Transformational cost management (417) (719) (327) Acquisition-related amortization (523) (384) (416) Certain legal and regulatory accruals and settlements (75) — (31) LIFO provision (13) (95) (136) Acquisition-related costs (54) (315) (303) Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets (49) (2,016) (73) Store optimization — (53) (196) Store damage and inventory losses — (68) — Operating income $ 2,342 $ 982 $ 4,766 No single customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s consolidated sales for any of the periods presented. Substantially all of our retail pharmacy sales are to customers covered by third-party payers (e.g., pharmacy benefit managers, insurance companies and governmental agencies) that agree to pay for all or a portion of a customer's eligible prescription purchases. In the United States segment, three third-party payers accounted for approximately 33%, 35%, and 35% of the Company's consolidated sales in fiscal 2021, fiscal 2020, and fiscal 2019 respectively. Geographic data for sales is as follows (in millions): 2021 2020 2019 United States $ 112,005 $ 107,701 $ 104,532 United Kingdom 8,298 7,830 8,947 Germany 10,472 4,876 4,713 Other 1,734 1,575 1,882 Sales $ 132,509 $ 121,982 $ 120,074 Geographic data for long-lived assets, defined as property, plant and equipment, is as follows (in millions): 2021 2020 United States $ 9,665 $ 10,344 United Kingdom 2,205 2,203 Other 377 250 Total long-lived assets $ 12,247 $ 12,796

Sales

Sales	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Sales	Sales The following table summarizes the Company’s sales by segment and by major source (in millions): For the years ending August 31, 2021 2020 2019 United States Pharmacy $ 84,892 $ 80,481 $ 77,299 Retail 27,113 27,220 27,233 Total $ 112,005 $ 107,701 $ 104,532 International Pharmacy $ 3,808 $ 3,503 $ 3,653 Retail 6,225 5,902 7,177 Wholesale 10,472 4,876 4,713 Total $ 20,505 $ 14,281 $ 15,542 Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. $ 132,509 $ 121,982 $ 120,074

Related parties

Related parties	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related parties	Related parties The Company has a long-term pharmaceutical distribution agreement with AmerisourceBergen pursuant to which the Company sources branded and generic pharmaceutical products from AmerisourceBergen principally for its U.S. operations. Additionally, AmerisourceBergen receives sourcing services for generic pharmaceutical products. Related party transactions with AmerisourceBergen (in millions): 2021 2020 2019 Purchases, net $ 62,513 $ 59,569 $ 57,429 Trade accounts payable, net $ 6,589 $ 6,390 $ 6,484 See Note 2 Discontinued operations, for further information.

Supplementary financial informa

Supplementary financial information	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Supplementary Financial Information [Abstract]
Supplementary financial information	Supplementary financial information Summary of Quarterly Results (Unaudited) (in millions, except per share amounts) Quarter ended November February May August Fiscal year Fiscal 2021 Sales $ 31,438 $ 32,779 $ 34,030 $ 34,262 $ 132,509 Gross profit $ 6,630 $ 6,781 $ 7,153 $ 7,503 $ 28,067 Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. Continuing operations $ (391) $ 922 $ 1,105 $ 358 $ 1,994 Discontinued operations 83 104 92 268 548 Total $ (308) $ 1,026 $ 1,197 $ 627 $ 2,542 Basic earnings (loss) per common share: Continuing operations $ (0.45) $ 1.07 $ 1.28 $ 0.41 $ 2.31 Discontinued operations 0.10 0.12 0.11 0.31 0.63 Total $ (0.36) $ 1.19 $ 1.38 $ 0.72 $ 2.94 Diluted earnings (loss) per common share: Continuing operations $ (0.45) $ 1.06 $ 1.27 $ 0.41 $ 2.30 Discontinued operations 0.10 0.12 0.11 0.31 0.63 Total $ (0.36) $ 1.19 $ 1.38 $ 0.72 $ 2.93 Cash dividends declared per common share $ 0.4675 $ 0.4675 $ 0.4675 $ 0.4775 $ 1.8800 Fiscal 2020 Sales $ 29,912 $ 31,336 $ 30,364 $ 30,371 $ 121,982 Gross profit $ 6,777 $ 7,017 $ 5,959 $ 6,324 $ 26,078 Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. Continuing operations $ 769 $ 867 $ (1,794) $ 337 $ 180 Discontinued operations 76 79 86 36 277 Total $ 845 $ 946 $ (1,708) $ 373 $ 456 Basic earnings (loss) per common share: Continuing operations $ 0.86 $ 0.98 $ (2.05) $ 0.39 $ 0.20 Discontinued operations 0.08 0.09 0.10 0.04 0.31 Total $ 0.95 $ 1.07 $ (1.95) $ 0.43 $ 0.52 Diluted earnings (loss) per common share: Continuing operations $ 0.86 $ 0.98 $ (2.05) $ 0.39 $ 0.20 Discontinued operations 0.08 0.09 0.10 0.04 0.31 Total $ 0.95 $ 1.07 $ (1.95) $ 0.43 $ 0.52 Cash dividends declared per common share $ 0.4575 $ 0.4575 $ 0.4575 $ 0.4675 $ 1.8400 See Note 2 Discontinued operations, for additional details on discontinued operations.

Subsequent events

Subsequent events	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent events	Subsequent events On September 4, 2021 the Company executed a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement to acquire a majority equity interest in CareCentrix, Inc. (“CareCentrix”), a leading player in the post-acute and home care management sectors, for consideration of approximately $330 million, subject to a net debt adjustment. The investment will result in the Company owning approximately 55% controlling equity interest in CareCentrix. Under the terms of the Agreement, the Company has an option to acquire the remaining equity interests of CareCentrix in the future. CareCentrix’ other equity holders will also have an option to require the Company to purchase the remaining equity interests. The transaction is subject to the receipt of required regulatory clearances and approvals and other customary closing conditions. Upon closing, the Company will account for this acquisition as a business combination and consolidate CareCentrix in its financial statements. On September 17, 2021 the Company entered into an agreement to acquire a majority equity interest in Shields Health Solutions (“Shields”), an industry leader in integrated, health system-owned specialty pharmacy care, for a cash consideration of approximately $970 million. The additional equity interest, combined with the Company's current minority equity investment, will result in the Company owning approximately 71% controlling equity interest in Shields. Under the terms of the transaction agreements, the Company has an option to acquire the remaining equity interests of Shields in the future. Shields’ other equity holders will also have an option to require the Company to purchase the remaining equity interests. The transaction is subject to the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and other customary closing conditions and is expected to close by the end of calendar 2021. At close of the transaction, the Company will account for this acquisition of the majority equity interest as a business combination and consolidate Shields in its financial statements, remeasuring its current minority equity interest at fair value with resulting gain to be recognized in Other income in the Statement of Earnings.

Summary of major accounting p_2

Summary of major accounting policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of presentation	Basis of presentation The Consolidated Financial Statements include all subsidiaries in which the Company holds a controlling interest. The Company uses the equity-method of accounting for equity investments in less than majority-owned companies if the investment provides the ability to exercise significant influence. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated. The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to use judgment in the application of accounting policies, including making estimates and assumptions. The Company bases its estimates on the information available at the time, its experiences and various other assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic (“COVID-19”) has severely impacted the economies of the United States (“U.S.”), the United Kingdom (“UK”) and other countries around the world. The impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s businesses, financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021, as well as information regarding certain expected or potential impacts of COVID-19 on the Company, is discussed throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company’s future assessment of the magnitude and duration of COVID-19, as well as other factors, could result in material impacts to the Company’s consolidated financial statements in future reporting periods. Adjustments may be made in subsequent periods to reflect more current estimates and assumptions about matters that are inherently uncertain. Actual results may differ. The impact of COVID-19, the influence of certain holidays, seasonality, foreign currency rates, changes in vendor, payer and customer relationships and terms, strategic transactions including acquisitions, changes in laws and general economic conditions in the markets in which the Company operates and other factors on the Company’s operations and net earnings for any period may not be comparable to the same period in previous years.
Cash and cash equivalents	Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less. Credit and debit card receivables, which generally settle within one seven
Restricted cash and other cash flows from operating activities	Restricted cash and other cash flows from operating activities Restricted cash The Company is required to maintain cash deposits with certain banks which consist of deposits restricted under contractual agreements and cash restricted by law and other obligations.
Accounts receivable	Accounts receivable Accounts receivable are stated net of allowances for doubtful accounts. Accounts receivable balances primarily consist of trade receivables due from customers, including amounts due from third-party providers (e.g., pharmacy benefit managers, insurance companies and governmental agencies). Trade receivables were $4.5 billion and $3.0 billion at August 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Other accounts receivable balances, which consist primarily of receivables from vendors and manufacturers, including receivables from AmerisourceBergen (see Note 19 Related parties), were $1.1 billion and $1.1 billion at August 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Inventories	Inventories The Company values inventories on a lower of cost and net realizable value or market basis. Inventories include product costs, inbound freight, direct labor, warehousing costs for retail pharmacy operations and distribution of products and vendor allowances not classified as a reduction of advertising expense. The Company’s United States segment inventory is accounted for using the last-in-first-out (“LIFO”) method. The total carrying value of the segment inventory accounted for under the LIFO method was $6.2 billion and $6.4 billion at August 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. At August 31, 2021 and 2020, United States segment inventory would have been greater by $3.3 billion and $3.3 billion, respectively, if they had been valued on a lower of first-in-first-out (“FIFO”) cost and net realizable value.
Property, plant and equipment	Property, plant and equipment Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Major repairs, which extend the useful life of an asset, are capitalized; routine maintenance and repairs are charged against earnings. Depreciation is provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of owned assets. Leasehold improvements, equipment under finance lease and finance lease properties are amortized over their respective estimate of useful life or over the term of the lease, whichever is shorter. The majority of the Company’s fixtures and equipment uses the composite method of depreciation. The following table summarizes the Company’s property, plant and equipment (in millions) and estimated useful lives (in years): Estimated useful life 2021 2020 Land and land improvements 20 $ 2,798 $ 3,157 Buildings and building improvements 3 to 50 7,569 7,795 Fixtures and equipment 3 to 20 10,314 9,904 Capitalized system development costs and software 3 to 10 3,624 3,061 Finance lease properties 1,016 1,011 $ 25,321 $ 24,927 Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization 13,073 12,131 Balance at end of year $ 12,247 $ 12,796 three
Leases	Leases The Company leases certain retail stores, warehouses, distribution centers, office space, land and equipment. Initial terms for leased premises in the United States are typically 15 to 25 years, followed by additional terms containing renewal options at five-year intervals, and may include rent escalation clauses. Non-U.S. leases are typically for shorter terms and may include cancellation clauses or renewal options. The lease term of real estate leases includes renewal options that are reasonably certain of being exercised. Options to extend are considered reasonably certain of being exercised based on evaluation if there are significant investments within the leased property which have useful lives greater than the non-cancelable lease term, performance of the underlying store and the Company’s economic and strategic initiatives. Short-term leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheets. The Company determines if an arrangement contains a lease at the inception of a contract. The lease classification is determined at the commencement date. Right-of-use assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease during the lease term. Right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of the remaining future minimum lease payments during the lease term. Lease commencement is the date the Company has the right to control the property. The Company utilizes its incremental borrowing rate to discount the lease payments. The incremental borrowing rate is based on the Company's estimated rate of interest for a collateralized borrowing over a similar term as the lease term. The operating lease right-of-use assets also include lease payments made before commencement, lease incentives and are recorded net of impairment. Operating leases are expensed on a straight line basis over the lease term. The Company accounts for lease components and non-lease components as a single lease component. Variable lease payment amounts that cannot be determined at the commencement of the lease such as increases in lease payments based on changes in index rates or usage, are not included in the right-of-use assets or lease liabilities. These are expensed as incurred. The Company has real estate leases which require additional payments based on sales volume, as well as reimbursement for real estate taxes, common area maintenance and insurance, which are expensed as incurred as variable lease costs and hence are not included in the lease payments used to calculate lease liability. Other real estate leases contain one fixed lease payment that includes real estate taxes, common area maintenance and insurance. These fixed payments are considered part of the lease payment and included in the right-of-use assets and lease liabilities. The Company does not separately account for the land portion of the leases involving land and building. Finance leases are recognized within property, plant and equipment and as a finance lease liability within accrued expenses and other liabilities and other noncurrent liabilities.
Business combinations	Business combinations The Company allocates the fair value of purchase consideration to the tangible and intangible assets purchased and the liabilities assumed on the basis of their fair values at the date of acquisition. The determination of fair values of assets acquired
Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets	Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations. Acquired intangible assets are recorded at fair value. Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are evaluated for impairment annually during the fourth quarter, or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that could more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit or intangible asset below its carrying value. As part of the Company’s impairment analysis, fair value of a reporting unit is determined using both the income and market approaches. The income approach requires management to estimate a number of factors for each reporting unit, including projected future operating results, economic projections, anticipated future cash flows and discount rates. The market approach estimates fair value using comparable marketplace fair value data from within a comparable industry grouping. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment by comparing the estimated fair value of the asset to its carrying value. If the carrying value of the asset exceeds its estimated fair value, an impairment loss is recognized and the asset is written down to its estimated fair value
Equity method investments	Equity method investments The Company uses the equity method of accounting for equity investments if the investment provides the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over operating and financial policies of the investee. The Company’s proportionate share of the net income or loss of these investees is included in consolidated net earnings. Judgment regarding the level of influence over each equity method investment includes considering key factors such as the Company’s ownership interest, legal form of the investee (e.g. limited liability partnership), representation on the board of directors, participation in policy-making decisions and material intra-entity transactions.
Financial instruments	Financial instruments The Company uses derivative instruments to hedge its exposure to market risks, including interest rate and currency risks, arising from operating and financing risks. In accordance with its risk management policies, the Company does not hold or issue derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes. Derivatives are recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair values. When the Company becomes a party to a derivative instrument and intends to apply hedge accounting, it formally documents the hedge relationship and the risk management objective for undertaking the hedge which includes designating the instrument for financial reporting purposes as a fair value hedge, a cash flow hedge, or a net investment hedge. The accounting for changes in fair value of a derivative instrument depends on whether the Company had designated it in a qualifying hedging relationship and on the type of hedging relationship. The Company applies the following accounting policies: • Changes in the fair value of a derivative designated as a fair value hedge, along with the gain or loss on the hedged asset or liability attributable to the hedged risk, are recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings in the same line item, generally interest expense, net. • Changes in the fair value of a derivative designated as a cash flow hedge are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income and reclassified into earnings in the period or periods during which the hedged item affects earnings and is presented in the same line item as the earnings effect of the hedged item. • Changes in the fair value of a derivative designated as a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation are recorded in cumulative translation adjustments within accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Recognition in earnings of amounts previously recorded in cumulative translation adjustments is limited to circumstances such as complete or substantially complete liquidation of the net investment in the hedged investments in foreign operations. • Changes in the fair value of a derivative not designated in a hedging relationship are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. Cash receipts or payments on a settlement of a derivative contract are reported in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows consistent with the nature of the underlying hedged item. For derivative instruments designated as hedges, the Company assesses, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of hedged items. Highly effective means that cumulative changes in the fair value of the derivative are between 80% and 125% of the cumulative changes in the fair value of the hedged item. In addition, when the Company determines that a derivative is not highly effective as a hedge, hedge accounting is discontinued. When it is probable that a hedged forecasted transaction will not occur, the Company discontinues hedge accounting for the affected portion of the forecasted transaction and reclassifies any gains or losses in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to earnings in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings. When a derivative in a hedge relationship is terminated or the hedged item is sold, extinguished or terminated, hedge accounting is discontinued prospectively.
Pension and postretirement benefits	Pension and postretirement benefits The Company has various defined benefit pension plans that cover some of its non-U.S. employees. The Company also has a postretirement healthcare plan that covers qualifying U.S. employees. Eligibility and the level of benefits for these plans vary depending on participants’ status, date of hire and or length of service. Pension and postretirement healthcare plan expenses and valuations are dependent on assumptions used by third-party actuaries in calculating those amounts. These assumptions include discount rates, healthcare cost trends, long-term return on plan assets, retirement rates, mortality rates and other factors.
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	Redeemable noncontrolling interestThe Company presents non-controlling interest in temporary equity within its Consolidated Balance Sheets if it is redeemable at a fixed or determinable price on a fixed or determinable date on the option of the holder, or upon the occurrence of an event that is not solely within the control of the Company. The carrying amount of the redeemable non-controlling interest is equal to the greater of the carrying value of non-controlling interest adjusted each reporting period for income (or loss) attributable to the non-controlling interest as well as any applicable distributions made or the redemption value. Re-measurements to the redemption value of the redeemable non-controlling interest are recognized in additional paid in capital.
Noncontrolling interests	Noncontrolling interestsThe Company presents noncontrolling interests as a component of equity on its Consolidated Balance Sheets and reports the portion of its earnings or loss for noncontrolling interest as net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings
Currency	Currency Assets and liabilities of non-U.S. dollar functional currency operations are translated into U.S. dollars at end-of-period exchange rates while revenues, expenses and cash flows are translated at average monthly exchange rates over the period. Equity is translated at historical exchange rates and the resulting cumulative translation adjustments are included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Assets and liabilities not denominated in the functional currency are remeasured into the functional currency at end-of-period exchange rates, except for nonmonetary balance sheet amounts, which are remeasured at historical exchange rates. Revenues and expenses are recorded at average monthly exchange rates over the period, except for those expenses related to nonmonetary balance sheet amounts, which are remeasured at historical exchange rates. Gains or losses from foreign currency remeasurement are generally included in selling, general and administrative expenses within the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
Commitments and contingencies	Commitments and contingenciesOn a quarterly basis, the Company assesses its liabilities and contingencies for outstanding legal proceedings and reserves are established on a case-by-case basis for those legal claims for which management concludes that it is probable that a loss will be incurred and that the amount of such loss can be reasonably estimated. Substantially all of these contingencies are subject to significant uncertainties and, therefore, determining the likelihood of a loss and/or the measurement of any loss can be complex. With respect to litigation and other legal proceedings where the Company has determined that a loss is reasonably possible, the Company may be unable to estimate the amount or range of reasonably possible loss due to the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of and uncertainties regarding such litigation and legal proceedings. The Company’s assessments are based on estimates and assumptions that have been deemed reasonable by management, but that may prove to be incomplete or inaccurate, and unanticipated events and circumstances may occur that might cause the Company to change those estimates and assumptions. Therefore, it is possible that an unfavorable resolution of one or more pending litigation or other contingencies could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements in a future fiscal period. Management’s assessment of current litigation and other legal proceedings, including the corresponding accruals, could change because of the discovery of facts with respect to legal actions or other proceedings pending against the Company which are not presently known. Adverse rulings or determinations by judges, juries, governmental authorities or other parties could also result in changes to management’s assessment of current liabilities and contingencies. Accordingly, the ultimate costs of resolving these claims may be substantially higher or lower than the amounts reserved.
Revenue recognition, Loyalty programs and gift card, Cost of sales	Revenue recognition Sales are recognized at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring control of goods or services to the customer. Sales are reported on the gross amount billed to a customer less discounts if it has earned revenue as a principal from the sale of goods and services. Sales are reported on the net amount retained (that is, the amount billed to the customer less the amount paid to a vendor) if it has earned a commission or a fee as an agent. The Company recognizes revenue, net of taxes and expected returns, at the time it sells merchandise or dispenses prescription drugs to the customer. The Company estimates revenue based on expected reimbursements from third-party payers (e.g., pharmacy benefit managers, insurance companies and governmental agencies) for dispensing prescription drugs. The estimates are based on all available information including historical experience and are updated to actual reimbursement amounts. Wholesale revenue is recognized, net of taxes and expected returns, upon shipment of goods, which is generally also the day of delivery. Loyalty programs and gift cards The Company’s loyalty rewards programs represent a separate performance obligation and are accounted for using the deferred revenue approach. When goods are sold, the transaction price is allocated between goods sold and loyalty points awarded based upon the relative standalone selling price. The revenue allocated to the loyalty points is recognized upon redemption. Loyalty programs breakage is recognized as revenue based on the redemption pattern. Customer purchases of gift cards are not recognized as revenue until the card is redeemed. Gift card breakage (i.e., unused gift card) is recognized as revenue based on the redemption pattern. Contract balances with customers The Company recognizes contract liabilities to record the Company’s obligation to transfer additional goods or services to a customer for which the Company has received consideration, for example the Company’s myWalgreens and Boots Advantage Card loyalty programs. Under such programs, customers earn Walgreens Cash or reward points on purchases for redemption at a later date. Cost of sales Cost of sales includes the purchase price of goods and cost of services rendered, store and warehouse inventory loss, inventory obsolescence and supplier rebates. In addition to product costs, cost of sales includes warehousing costs for retail operations, purchasing costs, freight costs, cash discounts and vendor allowances. Vendor allowances and supplier rebates Vendor allowances are principally received as a result of purchases, sales or promotion of vendors’ products. Allowances are generally recorded as a reduction of inventory and are recognized as a reduction of cost of sales when the related merchandise is sold. Allowances received for promoting vendors’ products are offset against advertising expense and result in a reduction of selling, general and administrative expenses to the extent of advertising costs incurred, with the excess treated as a reduction of inventory costs. Rebates or refunds received by the Company from its suppliers, mostly in cash, are considered as an adjustment of the prices of the supplier’s products purchased by the Company.
Selling, general and administrative expenses	Selling, general and administrative expenses Selling, general and administrative expenses mainly consist of salaries and employee costs, occupancy costs, depreciation and amortization, credit and debit card fees and expenses directly related to stores. In addition, other costs included are headquarters’ expenses, advertising costs (net of vendor advertising allowances), wholesale warehousing costs and insurance.
Advertising costs	Advertising costs Advertising costs are reduced by the portion funded by vendors, if reimbursement represents a specific, incremental, identifiable cost, and expensed as incurred or when services have been received. Net advertising expenses, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses, were $772 million in fiscal 2021, $532 million in fiscal 2020 and $582 million in fiscal 2019.
Impairment of long-lived assets	Impairment of long-lived assets The Company evaluates the recoverability of long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such an asset may not be recoverable. The evaluation of long-lived assets is performed at the lowest level of identifiable cash flows. Long-lived assets related to the Company’s retail operations include property, plant and equipment, definite-lived intangibles, right of use asset as well as operating lease liability. If the asset group fails the recoverability test, then an impairment charge is determined based on the difference between the fair value of the asset group compared to its carrying value. Fair value of the asset group is generally determined using income approach based on cash flows expected from the use and eventual disposal of the asset group.
Stock compensation plans	Stock compensation plansStock based compensation is measured at fair value at the grant date. The Company grants stock options, performance shares and restricted units to the Company’s non-employee directors, officers and employees. The Company recognizes compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the substantive service period.
Insurance	Insurance The Company obtains insurance coverage for catastrophic exposures as well as those risks required by law to be insured. In general, the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries retain a significant portion of losses related to workers’ compensation, property, comprehensive general, pharmacist and vehicle liability, while non-U.S. subsidiaries manage their exposures through insurance coverage with third-party carriers. Management regularly reviews the probable outcome of claims and proceedings, the
Income taxes	Income taxes The Company accounts for income taxes according to the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based upon the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured pursuant to tax laws using rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rate is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts more likely than not to be realized. In determining the provision for income taxes, the Company uses income, permanent differences between book and tax income, the relative proportion of foreign and domestic income, enacted statutory income tax rates, projections of income subject to Subpart F rules and unrecognized tax benefits related to current year results. Discrete events such as the assessment of the ultimate outcome of tax audits, audit settlements, recognizing previously unrecognized tax benefits due to lapsing of the applicable statute of limitations, recognizing or de-recognizing benefits of deferred tax assets due to future year financial statement projections and changes in tax laws are recognized in the period in which they occur.
Earnings per share	Earnings per shareThe dilutive effect of outstanding stock options on earnings per share is calculated using the treasury stock method. Stock options are anti-dilutive and excluded from the earnings per share calculation if the exercise price exceeds the average market price of the common shares.
New accounting pronouncements	New accounting pronouncements Adoption of new accounting pronouncements Financial instrument s In March 2020, FASB issued ASU 2020-03, Codification Improvement to Financial Instruments. This ASU improves and clarifies various financial instruments topics. The ASU includes seven different issues that describe the areas of improvement and the related amendments to GAAP, intended to make the standards easier to understand and apply by eliminating inconsistencies and providing clarifications. The Company adopted the new standard effective September 1, 2020 and the adoption did not have any impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position. Investments - equity securities In April 2019, the “FASB” issued “ASU” 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Financial Instruments (Topic 825). This extensive ASU provides clarifications for three topics related to financial instruments accounting, some of which apply to the Company. For example, this ASU clarifies the disclosure requirements that apply to equity securities without a readily determinable fair value for which the measurement alternative is elected. The Company adopted the new standard effective September 1, 2020 and the adoption did not have any impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position. Collaborative arrangement s In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-18, Collaborative Arrangements (Topic 808). This ASU clarifies the interaction between Topic 808, Collaborative Arrangements, and Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The Company adopted the new standard effective September 1, 2020 and the adoption did not have any impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position. Compensation – retirement benefits – defined benefit plans In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, Compensation - Retirement benefits (Topic 715-20). This ASU amends ASC 715 to add, remove and clarify disclosure requirements related to defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans. The ASU eliminates the requirement to disclose the amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income expected to be recognized as part of net periodic benefit cost over the next year. The ASU also removes the disclosure requirements for the effects of a one-percentage-point change on the assumed health care costs and the effect of this change in rates on service cost, interest cost and the benefit obligation for postretirement health care benefits. The Company adopted the new standard effective August 31, 2021 and the adoption did not have any impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position. Fair value measurement In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820). The ASU eliminates such disclosures as the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The ASU adds new disclosure requirements for Level 3 measurements. The Company adopted the new standard effective September 1, 2020 on a retrospective basis and the adoption of this ASU did not have any impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position. Financial instruments - credit losses In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (Topic 326), which amends the Board’s guidance on the impairment of financial instruments. The ASU adds to U.S. GAAP an impairment model that is based on expected losses rather than incurred losses, which is known as the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model. The CECL model applies to most debt instruments (other than those measured at fair value), trade and other receivables, financial guarantee contracts, and loan commitments. The Company adopted the new standard effective September 1, 2020, using a modified retrospective transition method, which requires a cumulative-effect adjustment, if any, to the opening balance of retained earnings to be recognized on the date of adoption with prior periods not restated. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. New accounting pronouncements not yet adopted Receivables - nonrefundable fees and others In October 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-08, Codification Improvements to Subtopic 310-20, Receivables—Nonrefundable Fees and Other. This ASU clarifies the accounting for the amortization period for certain purchased callable debt securities held at a premium by giving consideration to securities which have multiple call dates. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 (fiscal 2022). The Company does not expect adoption will have any impact on the Company's results of operations, cash flows or financial position. Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. This ASU provides optional expedient and exceptions for applying generally accepted accounting principles to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. In response to the concerns about structural risks of interbank offered rates ("IBORs") and, particularly, the risk of cessation of the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), regulators in several jurisdictions around the world have undertaken reference rate reform initiatives to identify alternative reference rates that are more observable or transaction based and less susceptible to manipulation. The ASU provides companies with optional guidance to ease the potential accounting burden associated with transitioning away from reference rates that are expected to be discontinued. The FASB further issued ASU 2021-01 in January 2021, to clarify the scope of Topic 848. The ASU can be adopted no later than December 1, 2022 (fiscal 2023) with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect adoption will have any material impact on the Company's results of operations, cash flows or financial position. Investments - equity securities; Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures; Derivatives and Hedging In January 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-01, Investments—Equity Securities (Topic 321), Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815). The amendments in this ASU clarify the interaction between the accounting for investments in equity securities, investment in equity method and certain derivatives instruments. The ASU is expected to reduce diversity in practice and increase comparability of the accounting for these interactions. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 (fiscal 2022). The Company does not expect adoption will have any impact on the Company's results of operations, cash flows or financial position. Income taxes - simplifying the accounting for income taxes In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12: Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (Topic 740), which removes certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and improves consistent application of and simplifies GAAP for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 (fiscal 2022), and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect adoption will have any material impact on the Company's results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Summary of major accounting p_3

Summary of major accounting policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Schedule of reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents	The following represents a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents in the Consolidated Balance Sheets to total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as of August 31, 2021 and 2020, (in millions): August 31, 2021 August 31, 2020 Cash and cash equivalents - continuing operations $ 1,193 $ 469 Cash and cash equivalents - discontinued operations — 47 Restricted cash - continuing operations (included in other current assets) 77 62 Restricted cash - discontinued operations — 168 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $ 1,270 $ 746
Schedule of property, plant and equipment	The following table summarizes the Company’s property, plant and equipment (in millions) and estimated useful lives (in years): Estimated useful life 2021 2020 Land and land improvements 20 $ 2,798 $ 3,157 Buildings and building improvements 3 to 50 7,569 7,795 Fixtures and equipment 3 to 20 10,314 9,904 Capitalized system development costs and software 3 to 10 3,624 3,061 Finance lease properties 1,016 1,011 $ 25,321 $ 24,927 Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization 13,073 12,131 Balance at end of year $ 12,247 $ 12,796

Discontinued operations (Tables

Discontinued operations (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]
Schedules of discontinued operations	The following table shows the fair value of proceeds from the Alliance Healthcare Sale and net carrying value of the assets disposed. As of the date of this report, the Company had not finalized net working capital and net cash adjustments for discontinued operations and therefore proceeds and gain amounts presented are subject to further refinement and may result in changes. Transaction proceeds and net assets disposed ($ in billions) Estimated fair value of proceeds from disposition 1 $ 6.9 Estimated net assets disposed 5.8 Estimated gain before currency translation adjustments 1.1 Estimated amount of currency translation loss released due to disposition (0.8) Net gain on disposal of discontinued operation 2 $ 0.3 1 Includes base consideration of $6.275 billion adjusted for net working capital and net cash adjustments as set forth in the Share Purchase Agreement. 2 The Company recorded insignificant amount of tax expense due to utilization of capital losses. Results of discontinued operations were as follows (in millions): For the years ending August 31, 2021 2020 2019 Sales $ 16,070 $ 19,349 $ 18,618 Cost of sales 14,486 17,409 16,701 Gross profit 1,584 1,940 1,917 Selling, general and administrative expense 1 1,254 1,610 1,685 Operating income from discontinued operations 329 330 232 Other income (expense) 2 314 (8) (11) Interest expense, net (23) (25) (54) Earnings before income tax – discontinued operations 621 297 168 Income tax provision 78 21 11 Post tax earnings from other equity method investments 15 10 15 Net earnings from discontinued operations $ 557 $ 286 $ 172 1 Includes $44 million of divestiture related costs incurred post completion of the Alliance Healthcare Sale. 2 Includes $322 million of gain on sale of discontinued operations. Sales from the Disposal Group to the Company's continuing operations aggregate to (in millions): For the years ending August 31, 2021 1 2020 2019 Sales $ 1,385 $ 1,794 $ 1,826 1 Sales in Fiscal 2021 until date of disposal. The following table presents cash flows from operating and investing activities for discontinued operations (in millions): Twelve months ended August 31, 2021 2020 2019 Cash (used in) provided by operating activities - discontinued operations $ (132) $ 334 $ 302 Cash (used in) provided by for investing activities - discontinued operations (58) (80) (97) August 31, 2021 August 31, 2020 Cash and cash equivalents $ — $ 47 Accounts receivable, net — 3,022 Inventories — 1,534 Other current assets — 376 Assets of discontinued operations - current $ — $ 4,979 Property, plant and equipment, net 1 $ — $ 816 Goodwill and intangibles — 3,936 Other non-current assets — 230 Assets of discontinued operations - non-current $ — $ 4,983 Short term debt $ — $ 273 Trade accounts payables — 4,313 Accrued expenses and other liabilities — 746 Income taxes — 14 Liabilities of discontinued operations - current $ — $ 5,347 Deferred income taxes $ — $ 131 Other non-current liabilities — 280 Liabilities of discontinued operations - non-current $ — $ 412 1 Includes Operating lease right-of-use assets.

Acquisitions (Tables)

Acquisitions (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Business Combination and Asset Acquisition [Abstract]
Schedule of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed	The following table summarizes the consideration for the acquisition and the amounts of identified assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of the transaction (in millions): Purchase Price Allocation: Total Consideration $ 477 Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed Tangible assets $ 58 Developed technology and other intangibles 202 Liabilities (74) Total identifiable net assets $ 186 Non-controlling interest 103 Goodwill $ 394 The following table summarizes the consideration for the acquisition and the amounts of identified assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of the transaction (in millions): Purchase Price Allocation: Total Consideration $ 331 Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed Accounts receivable, cash and other assets $ 582 Inventories 470 Property, plant and equipment 125 Short term debt (296) Trade accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities (374) Other noncurrent liabilities (197) Total identifiable net assets $ 311 Goodwill $ 21
Schedule of pro forma information and actual sales	The pro forma information has been prepared for comparative purposes only and is not intended to be indicative of what the Company's results would have been had the acquisition occurred at the beginning of the periods presented or results which may occur in the future. Twelve months ended August 31, (in millions) 2021 2020 Sales $ 133,553 $ 127,817 Actual sales for the twelve months ended August 31, 2021 included in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings are as follows: (in millions) 2021 Sales $ 5,099

Exit and disposal activities (T

Exit and disposal activities (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]
Restructuring costs and reserves	Costs related to exit and disposal activities under the Transformational Cost Management Program for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, were as follows (in millions): Twelve Months Ended August 31, 2021 United States International Corporate and Other Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. Lease obligations and other real estate costs $ 103 $ 6 $ — $ 108 Asset impairments 15 9 — 24 Employee severance and business transition costs 79 40 45 165 Information technology transformation and other exit costs 20 17 — 38 Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges $ 217 $ 72 $ 46 $ 335 Twelve Months Ended August 31, 2020 United States International Corporate and Other Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. Lease obligations and other real estate costs $ 191 $ 9 $ 14 $ 215 Asset impairments 51 19 2 72 Employee severance and business transition costs 132 93 45 270 Information technology transformation and other exit costs 70 42 (4) 108 Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges $ 444 $ 163 $ 58 $ 665 Twelve Months Ended August 31, 2019 United States International Corporate and Other Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. Lease obligations and other real estate costs $ 5 $ 26 $ — $ 30 Asset impairments 95 61 — 156 Employee severance and business transition costs 41 37 1 78 Information technology transformation and other exit costs 6 10 — 17 Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges $ 147 $ 134 $ 1 $ 282
Schedule of restructuring reserve by type of cost	The changes in liabilities and assets related to the exit and disposal activities under Transformational Cost Management Program include the following (in millions): Lease obligations and other real estate costs Asset Impairments Employee severance and business transition costs Information technology transformation and other exit costs Total Balance at August 31, 2019 $ 17 $ — $ 27 $ 3 $ 47 Costs 215 72 270 108 665 Payments (44) — (146) (86) (276) Other - non cash (166) (72) 13 (11) (236) ASC 842 Leases adoption (4) — — — (4) Currency 1 — 2 — 3 Balance at August 31, 2020 $ 19 $ — $ 166 $ 14 $ 199 Costs 108 24 165 38 335 Payments (69) — (252) (31) (351) Other - non cash (42) (24) (4) — (70) Currency — — 2 (1) 1 Balance at August 31, 2021 $ 17 $ — $ 77 $ 20 $ 114

Leases (Tables)

Leases (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Leases [Abstract]
Schedule of supplemental balance sheet information	Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases were as follows (in millions): Balance Sheet supplemental information: August 31, 2021 August 31, 2020 Operating Leases: Operating lease right-of-use assets $ 21,893 $ 21,453 Operating lease obligations - current $ 2,259 $ 2,358 Operating lease obligations - non current 22,153 21,765 Total operating lease obligations $ 24,412 $ 24,123 Finance Leases: Right-of-use assets included in: Property, plant and equipment, net $ 725 $ 766 Lease obligations included in: Accrued expenses and other liabilities $ 37 $ 31 Other non-current liabilities 974 1,013 Total finance lease obligations $ 1,010 $ 1,044
Schedule of supplemental income statement and other information	Supplemental income statement information related to leases were as follows (in millions): Statement of Earnings supplemental information: August 31, 2021 August 31, 2020 Operating lease cost Fixed $ 3,219 $ 3,252 Variable 1 664 750 Finance lease cost Amortization $ 45 $ 40 Interest 52 54 Sublease income $ 84 $ 75 Impairment of right-of-use assets 86 213 Impairment of finance lease assets — 24 Gains on sale-leaseback transactions 2 367 308 1 Includes real estate property taxes, common area maintenance, insurance and rental payments based on sales volume. 2 Recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses. Other supplemental information was as follows (in millions): Other Supplemental Information: August 31, 2021 August 31, 2020 Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease obligations Operating cash flows from operating leases $ 3,414 $ 3,251 Operating cash flows from finance leases 48 48 Financing cash flows from finance leases 42 47 Total $ 3,503 $ 3,346 Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new lease obligations: Operating leases $ 2,765 $ 2,443 Finance leases — 65 Total $ 2,765 $ 2,508 Average lease term and discount rate as of August 31, 2021 were as follows: Weighted average terms and discount rates: August 31, 2021 August 31, 2020 Weighted average remaining lease term in years: Operating leases 10.3 10.7 Finance leases 20.2 20.6 Weighted average discount rate Operating leases 4.77 % 4.97 % Finance leases 5.18 % 5.14 %
Schedule of future lease payments under operating leases	The aggregate future lease payments for operating and finance leases as of August 31, 2021 were as follows (in millions): Future lease payments (Fiscal years): Finance lease Operating lease 2022 $ 89 $ 3,439 2023 88 3,342 2024 88 3,224 2025 87 3,102 2026 86 2,982 Later 1,142 15,210 Total undiscounted minimum lease payments $ 1,580 $ 31,299 Less: Present value discount (570) (6,887) Lease liability $ 1,010 $ 24,412
Schedule of future lease payments under finance leases	The aggregate future lease payments for operating and finance leases as of August 31, 2021 were as follows (in millions): Future lease payments (Fiscal years): Finance lease Operating lease 2022 $ 89 $ 3,439 2023 88 3,342 2024 88 3,224 2025 87 3,102 2026 86 2,982 Later 1,142 15,210 Total undiscounted minimum lease payments $ 1,580 $ 31,299 Less: Present value discount (570) (6,887) Lease liability $ 1,010 $ 24,412

Equity method investments (Tabl

Equity method investments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]
Equity method investment	Equity method investments as of August 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows (in millions, except percentages): 2021 2020 Carrying value Ownership percentage Carrying value Ownership percentage AmerisourceBergen $ 4,407 28% $ 5,446 28% Others 2,580 8% - 50% 1,758 8% - 50% Total $ 6,987 $ 7,204
Summarized financial information of equity method investees	Summarized financial information for the Company’s equity method investments in aggregate is as follows: Balance sheet (in millions) Year ended August 31, 2021 2020 Current assets $ 49,538 $ 39,167 Non-current assets 27,442 18,138 Current liabilities 48,766 38,034 Non-current liabilities 22,046 10,600 Shareholders’ equity 1 6,168 8,671 1 Shareholders’ equity at August 31, 2021 and 2020 includes $646 million and $387 million, respectively, related to noncontrolling interests. Statements of earnings (in millions) Year ended August 31, 2021 2020 2019 Sales $ 232,719 $ 208,625 $ 195,540 Gross profit 10,889 8,707 7,303 Net earnings (loss) (3,475) 1,624 997 Share of earnings (loss) from equity method investments (512) 372 172

Goodwill and other intangible_2

Goodwill and other intangible assets (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of goodwill	Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by reportable segment consist of the following activity (in millions): Goodwill rollforward: United States International Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. August 31, 2019 $ 10,491 $ 3,051 $ 13,542 Acquisitions 1 62 — 62 Impairment — (1,675) (1,675) Currency translation adjustments — 83 83 August 31, 2020 $ 10,553 $ 1,460 $ 12,013 Acquisitions 2 $ 394 $ 21 $ 414 Currency translation adjustments — (7) (7) August 31, 2021 $ 10,947 $ 1,474 $ 12,421 1 During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020, the Company acquired the remaining two of three Rite Aid distribution centers including related inventory for cash consideration of $91 million resulting in an increase to goodwill of $62 million. 2 During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021, the Company acquired a controlling equity interest in Innovation Associates, Inc. and a joint venture with McKesson which resulted in an increase to goodwill of $394 million and $21 million, respectively.
Schedule of finite-lived intangible assets by major class	The carrying amount and accumulated amortization of intangible assets consist of the following (in millions): Intangible assets: August 31, 2021 August 31, 2020 Gross amortizable intangible assets Customer relationships and loyalty card holders 1 $ 3,522 $ 3,502 Tradenames and trademarks 361 348 Purchasing and payer contracts 317 337 Others 2 221 60 Total gross amortizable intangible assets $ 4,421 $ 4,247 Accumulated amortization Customer relationships and loyalty card holders 1 $ 1,335 $ 1,089 Tradenames and trademarks 226 196 Purchasing and payer contracts 227 95 Others 2 37 26 Total accumulated amortization 1,826 1,406 Total amortizable intangible assets, net $ 2,595 $ 2,841 Indefinite-lived intangible assets Tradenames and trademarks $ 5,276 $ 5,203 Pharmacy licenses 2,066 2,028 Total indefinite-lived intangible assets $ 7,342 $ 7,231 Total intangible assets, net $ 9,936 $ 10,072 1 Includes purchased prescription files. 2 Includes acquired developed technology and non-compete agreements.
Schedule of finite-lived intangible assets, future amortization expense	Estimated future annual amortization expense for the next five fiscal years for intangible assets recorded at August 31, 2021 is as follows (in millions): 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 Estimated annual amortization expense $ 444 $ 330 $ 311 $ 276 $ 258

Debt (Tables)

Debt (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of short-term borrowings	Debt consists of the following (all amounts are presented in millions of U.S. dollars and debt issuances are denominated in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted): August 31, 2021 August 31, 2020 Short-term debt Commercial paper $ — $ 1,517 Credit facilities 6 — 1,071 £700 million note issuance 1,2 2.875% unsecured Pound sterling notes due 2020 — 533 $8 billion note issuance 1 3.300% unsecured notes due 2021 3 1,250 — Other 4 56 144 Total short-term debt $ 1,305 $ 3,265
Schedule of long-term debt	Long-term debt $1.5 billion note issuance 1 3.200% unsecured notes due 2030 $ 497 $ 497 4.100% unsecured notes due 2050 6 792 990 $6 billion note issuance 1 3.450% unsecured notes due 2026 6 1,442 1,891 4.650% unsecured notes due 2046 6 318 591 $8 billion note issuance 1 3.300% unsecured notes due 2021 — 1,248 3.800% unsecured notes due 2024 6 1,154 1,993 4.500% unsecured notes due 2034 6 301 496 4.800% unsecured notes due 2044 6 868 1,493 £700 million note issuance , 1 3.600% unsecured Pound sterling notes due 2025 408 398 €750 million note issuance 1 2.125% unsecured Euro notes due 2026 873 891 $4 billion note issuance 5 3.100% unsecured notes due 2022 6 731 1,198 4.400% unsecured notes due 2042 6 263 493 Other 4 29 24 Total long-term debt, less current portion $ 7,675 $ 12,203 1 Notes are unsubordinated debt obligations of the Company and rank equally in right of payment with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company from time to time outstanding. 2 On October 20, 2020, the Company redeemed in full the £400 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of its 2.875% unsecured Pound sterling notes due 2020 issued by the Company on November 20, 2014. 3 On August 17, 2021, the Company provided notice to the Trustee and the Holders of its 3.300% notes due 2021 issued by the Company on November 18, 2014 that it will redeem in full the $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount outstanding of the notes on September 18, 2021. These notes were redeemed in full as of that date. 4 Other debt represents a mix of fixed and variable rate debt with various maturities and working capital facilities denominated in various currencies. 5 Notes are senior debt obligations of Walgreen Co. and rank equally with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of Walgreen Co. On December 31, 2014, the Company fully and unconditionally guaranteed the outstanding notes on an unsecured and unsubordinated basis. The guarantee, for so long as it is in place, is an unsecured, unsubordinated debt obligation of the Company and will rank equally in right of payment with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company.
Schedule of future maturities of long-term debt	At August 31, 2021, the future maturities of short-term and long-term debt, excluding debt discounts and issuance costs and finance lease obligations (See Note 5 Leases, for the future lease payments), consisted of the following (in millions): Amount 2022 $ 1,305 2023 733 2024 2 2025 1,163 2026 1,858 Later 3,957 Total estimated future maturities $ 9,018

Financial instruments (Tables)

Financial instruments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Notional amounts of derivative instruments outstanding	The notional amounts and fair value of derivative instruments outstanding were as follows (in millions): August 31, 2021 Notional Fair value Location in Consolidated Balance Sheets Derivatives designated as hedges : Cross currency interest rate swaps $ 155 $ 1 Other non-current assets Foreign currency forwards 6 — Other non-current assets Foreign currency forwards 23 1 Other non-current liabilities Cross currency interest rate swaps 801 23 Other non-current liabilities Foreign currency forwards 575 7 Other current assets Foreign currency forwards 31 1 Other current liabilities Cross currency interest rate swaps 109 9 Other current liabilities Derivatives not designated as hedges : Foreign currency forwards $ 3,636 $ 38 Other current assets Total return swap 224 2 Other current assets Foreign currency forwards 808 3 Other current liabilities Total return swap 37 — Other current liabilities August 31, 2020 Notional Fair value Location in Consolidated Balance Sheets Derivatives designated as hedges : Cross currency interest rate swaps $ 722 $ 16 Other non-current assets Foreign currency forwards 49 1 Other non-current liabilities Cross currency interest rate swaps 318 13 Other non-current liabilities Interest rate swaps 1,000 10 Other non-current liabilities Foreign currency forwards 100 1 Other current assets Cross currency interest rate swaps 50 — Other current assets Foreign currency forwards 671 23 Other current liabilities Cross currency interest rate swaps 103 3 Other current liabilities Derivatives not designated as hedges : Foreign currency forwards $ 1,930 $ 19 Other current assets Foreign currency forwards 2,934 56 Other current liabilities Total return swap 205 1 Other current liabilities
Gains and losses due to changes in fair value recognized in earnings	These derivative instruments are economic hedges of foreign currency risks. The Company also utilizes total return swaps to economically hedge variability in compensation charges related to certain deferred compensation obligations. The income and (expense) due to changes in fair value of these derivative instruments were recognized in earnings as follows (in millions): Location in Consolidated Statements of Earnings 2021 2020 2019 Foreign currency forwards Selling, general and administrative expense $ (75) $ (63) $ 139 Total return swap Selling, general and administrative expense 58 24 — Foreign currency forwards Other income (expense) (8) 11 (18)

Fair value measurements (Tables

Fair value measurements (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	August 31, 2021 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Assets: Money market funds 1 $ 634 $ 634 $ — $ — Investments in equity securities 2 2 2 — — Investments in debt securities 3 663 — — 663 Foreign currency forwards 4 46 — 46 — Cross currency interest rate swaps 5 1 — 1 — Total return swaps 2 — 2 — Liabilities : Foreign currency forwards 4 $ 5 $ — $ 5 $ — Cross currency interest rate swaps 5 32 — 32 — August 31, 2020 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Assets: Money market funds¹ $ 6 $ 6 $ — $ — Investments in equity securities² 1 1 — — Foreign currency forwards 4 20 — 20 — Cross Currency interest rate swaps 5 16 — 16 — Liabilities : Foreign currency forwards 4 $ 80 $ — $ 80 $ — Cross currency interest rate swaps 5 16 — 16 — Interest rate swaps 5 10 — 10 — Total return swap 1 — 1 — 1 Money market funds are valued at the closing price reported by the fund sponsor. 2 Fair values of quoted investments are based on current bid prices as of August 31, 2021 and 2020. 3 Level 3 debt securities include investments in convertible debt securities of VillageMD which are valued on a quarterly basis using the Probability Weighted Expect Return Method with gains or losses recorded in Other Comprehensive Income. Inputs include the enterprise value, expected holding term of the investment, volatility and risk-free interest rates. 4 The fair value of forward currency contracts is estimated by discounting the difference between the contractual forward price and the current available forward price for the residual maturity of the contract using observable market rates. See Note 9 Financial instruments, for additional information. 5 The fair value of interest rate swaps and cross currency interest rate swaps is calculated by discounting the estimated future cash flows based on the applicable observable yield curves. See Note 9 Financial instruments, for additional information.

Income taxes (Tables)

Income taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of income before income tax, domestic and foreign	The components of earnings from continuing operations before income tax provision were (in millions): 2021 2020 2019 U.S. $ 61 $ 759 $ 1,898 Non–U.S. 1,934 (313) 2,461 Total $ 1,995 $ 446 $ 4,359
Provisions for income taxes	The provision for income taxes from continuing operations consists of the following (in millions): 2021 2020 2019 Current provision Federal $ 79 $ 184 $ 228 State 115 49 46 Non–U.S. 234 135 183 $ 428 $ 368 $ 457 Deferred provision Federal $ (10) $ (83) $ 151 State (46) 2 4 Non–U.S. – tax law change 344 139 — Non–U.S. – excluding tax law change (49) (87) (35) 239 (29) 120 Income tax provision $ 667 $ 339 $ 577
Difference between the statutory federal income tax rate and the effective tax rate	The difference between the statutory federal income tax rate and the effective tax rate from continuing operations is as follows: 2021 2020 2019 Federal statutory rate 21.0 % 21.0 % 21.0 % State income taxes, net of federal benefit 3.5 8.8 0.9 Foreign income taxed at non-U.S. rates (4.4) (17.0) (1.9) Non-taxable income (5.0) (47.5) (3.6) Non-deductible expenses 0.3 9.0 0.2 Tax law changes 17.3 31.3 (0.4) Change in valuation allowance 1 (4.7) 4.1 2.1 Tax benefits from restructuring (4.2) — — Tax expense on non-operating equity earnings 6.1 — — Uncertain tax positions 6.2 7.5 (0.8) Goodwill impairment — 72.5 — Tax credits (1.8) (10.3) (4.4) Other (0.9) (3.4) 0.1 Effective income tax rate 33.4 % 76.0 % 13.2 % 1 Net of changes in related tax attributes and tax benefits from capital losses generated and utilized in FY21.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities included in the consolidated balance sheet	The deferred tax assets and liabilities included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of the following (in millions): 2021 2020 Deferred tax assets: Compensation and benefits $ 175 $ 176 Postretirement benefits — 88 Insurance 103 98 Accrued rent & lease obligations 5,372 5,187 Allowance for doubtful accounts 34 9 Tax attributes 7,467 6,781 Stock compensation 88 47 Deferred income 34 18 Other — 50 $ 13,273 $ 12,454 Less: valuation allowance 7,239 6,490 Total deferred tax assets $ 6,034 $ 5,964 Deferred tax liabilities: Accelerated depreciation $ 896 $ 683 Inventory 377 345 Intangible assets 1,465 1,130 Equity method investment 236 542 Lease right-of-use asset 4,792 4,589 Other 30 — Total deferred tax liabilities 7,796 7,289 Net deferred tax liabilities $ 1,762 $ 1,325
Reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits	The following table provides a reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits (in millions): 2021 2020 2019 Balance at beginning of year $ 494 $ 455 $ 456 Gross increases related to tax positions in a prior period 229 60 33 Gross decreases related to tax positions in a prior period (52) (23) (53) Gross increases related to tax positions in the current period 446 9 26 Settlements with taxing authorities (13) (4) (2) Lapse of statute of limitations (6) (3) (5) Balance at end of year $ 1,098 $ 494 $ 455

Retirement benefits (Tables)

Retirement benefits (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Schedule of defined benefit plans using fair value hierarchy	The following tables present classes of defined benefit pension plan assets by fair value hierarchy (in millions): August 31, 2021 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Equity securities : Equity securities 1 $ 1,316 $ — $ 1,316 $ — Debt securities: Fixed interest government bonds 2 514 101 412 — Index linked government bonds 2 3,521 3,486 35 — Corporate bonds 3 2,851 1 2,850 — Real estate: Real estate 4 513 — — 513 Other : Other investments, net 5 1,761 107 1,024 629 Total $ 10,475 $ 3,696 $ 5,637 $ 1,142 August 31, 2020 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Equity securities : Equity securities 1 $ 1,505 $ — $ 1,505 $ — Debt securities: Fixed interest government bonds 2 515 111 404 — Index linked government bonds 2 4,168 2,936 1,232 — Corporate bonds 3 2,730 1 2,729 — Real estate: Real estate 4 492 — — 492 Other : Other investments, net 5 204 152 (347) 399 Total $ 9,614 $ 3,200 $ 5,523 $ 891 1 Equity securities, which mainly comprise of investments in commingled funds, are valued based on quoted prices and are primarily exchange-traded. Securities for which official close or last trade pricing on an active exchange is available are classified as Level 1 investments. If closing prices are not available, or the investments are in a commingled fund, securities are valued at the last quoted bid price and typically are categorized as Level 2 investments. 2 Debt securities: government bonds comprise of fixed interest and index linked bonds issued by central governments and are valued based on quotes received from independent pricing services or from dealers who make markets in such securities. Pricing services utilize pricing which considers readily available inputs such as the yield or price of bonds of comparable quality, coupon, maturity and type, as well as dealer-supplied prices. 3 Debt securities: corporate bonds comprise bonds issued by corporations in both segregated and commingled funds and are valued using recently executed transactions, or quoted market prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, or for identical assets and liabilities in markets that are not active. If there have been no market transactions in a particular fixed income security, its fair value is calculated by pricing models that benchmark the security against other securities with actual market prices. 4 Real estate comprise of investments in certain property funds which are valued based on the underlying properties. These properties are valued using a number of standard industry techniques such as cost, discounted cash flows, independent appraisals and market based comparable data. Real estate investments are categorized as Level 3 investments. Changes in Level 3 investments during fiscal 2021 were driven by actual return on plan assets still held at August 31, 2021 and purchases during the year. 5 Other investments mainly comprise of net receivable (payable) amounts for unsettled transactions, cash and cash equivalents, derivatives, insurance linked securities and direct private placements. Cash is categorized as a Level 1 investment and cash in commingled funds is categorized as Level 2 investments. Amounts receivable (payable) are categorized as level 2 investments. Cash equivalents are valued using observable yield curves, discounting and interest rates and are categorized as Level 2 investments. Derivatives which are exchange-traded and for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last reported sale price or official closing price as reported by an independent pricing service on the primary market, or exchange on which they are traded, and are categorized as Level 1 investments. Over-the-counter derivatives typically are valued by independent pricing services and are categorized as Level 2 investments. Insurance lined securities are categorized as Level 2. Direct private placements are typically bonds valued by reference to comparable bonds and are categorized as Level 3 investments. Changes in Level 3 investments during fiscal 2021 were primarily driven by purchases during the year.
Components of net periodic benefit costs	Components of net periodic pension costs for the defined benefit pension plans and cumulative pre-tax amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss are as follows (in millions): Boots and other pension plans 2021 2020 2019 Service costs (Selling, general and administrative expenses) $ 6 $ 2 $ 2 Interest costs (Other income) 139 141 195 Expected returns on plan assets/other (Other income) (332) (285) (245) Total net periodic pension (income) cost $ (188) $ (142) $ (48) Net actuarial (gain) loss $ (506) $ 856 $ 90 Prior service cost (1) (1) 24 Total pre-tax comprehensive (income) expense $ (507) $ 855 $ 114
Accumulated and projected benefit obligations	Change in benefit obligations for the defined benefit pension plans (in millions): 2021 2020 Benefit obligation at beginning of year $ 9,905 $ 8,795 Service costs 6 2 Interest costs 139 141 Settlements (2) — Net actuarial loss 75 491 Benefits paid (320) (330) Acquisitions 182 — Currency translation adjustments 223 806 Benefit obligation at end of year $ 10,206 $ 9,905
Changes in fair value of plan assets	Change in plan assets for the defined benefit pension plans (in millions): 2021 2020 Plan assets at fair value at beginning of year $ 9,614 $ 9,131 Employer contributions 53 35 Benefits paid (320) (330) Return on assets/other 906 (31) Settlements (2) — Currency translation adjustments 223 810 Plan assets at fair value at end of year $ 10,475 $ 9,614
Amounts recognized in balance sheet	Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions): 2021 2020 Other non-current assets $ 602 $ — Accrued expenses and other liabilities (9) (6) Other non-current liabilities (324) (285) Net asset (liability) recognized at end of year $ 269 $ (291)
Schedule of projected benefit obligation	The following tables present classes of defined benefit pension plan assets by fair value hierarchy (in millions): August 31, 2021 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Equity securities : Equity securities 1 $ 1,316 $ — $ 1,316 $ — Debt securities: Fixed interest government bonds 2 514 101 412 — Index linked government bonds 2 3,521 3,486 35 — Corporate bonds 3 2,851 1 2,850 — Real estate: Real estate 4 513 — — 513 Other : Other investments, net 5 1,761 107 1,024 629 Total $ 10,475 $ 3,696 $ 5,637 $ 1,142 August 31, 2020 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Equity securities : Equity securities 1 $ 1,505 $ — $ 1,505 $ — Debt securities: Fixed interest government bonds 2 515 111 404 — Index linked government bonds 2 4,168 2,936 1,232 — Corporate bonds 3 2,730 1 2,729 — Real estate: Real estate 4 492 — — 492 Other : Other investments, net 5 204 152 (347) 399 Total $ 9,614 $ 3,200 $ 5,523 $ 891 1 Equity securities, which mainly comprise of investments in commingled funds, are valued based on quoted prices and are primarily exchange-traded. Securities for which official close or last trade pricing on an active exchange is available are classified as Level 1 investments. If closing prices are not available, or the investments are in a commingled fund, securities are valued at the last quoted bid price and typically are categorized as Level 2 investments. 2 Debt securities: government bonds comprise of fixed interest and index linked bonds issued by central governments and are valued based on quotes received from independent pricing services or from dealers who make markets in such securities. Pricing services utilize pricing which considers readily available inputs such as the yield or price of bonds of comparable quality, coupon, maturity and type, as well as dealer-supplied prices. 3 Debt securities: corporate bonds comprise bonds issued by corporations in both segregated and commingled funds and are valued using recently executed transactions, or quoted market prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, or for identical assets and liabilities in markets that are not active. If there have been no market transactions in a particular fixed income security, its fair value is calculated by pricing models that benchmark the security against other securities with actual market prices. 4 Real estate comprise of investments in certain property funds which are valued based on the underlying properties. These properties are valued using a number of standard industry techniques such as cost, discounted cash flows, independent appraisals and market based comparable data. Real estate investments are categorized as Level 3 investments. Changes in Level 3 investments during fiscal 2021 were driven by actual return on plan assets still held at August 31, 2021 and purchases during the year. 5 Other investments mainly comprise of net receivable (payable) amounts for unsettled transactions, cash and cash equivalents, derivatives, insurance linked securities and direct private placements. Cash is categorized as a Level 1 investment and cash in commingled funds is categorized as Level 2 investments. Amounts receivable (payable) are categorized as level 2 investments. Cash equivalents are valued using observable yield curves, discounting and interest rates and are categorized as Level 2 investments. Derivatives which are exchange-traded and for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last reported sale price or official closing price as reported by an independent pricing service on the primary market, or exchange on which they are traded, and are categorized as Level 1 investments. Over-the-counter derivatives typically are valued by independent pricing services and are categorized as Level 2 investments. Insurance lined securities are categorized as Level 2. Direct private placements are typically bonds valued by reference to comparable bonds and are categorized as Level 3 investments. Changes in Level 3 investments during fiscal 2021 were primarily driven by purchases during the year.
Schedule of projected and accumulated benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets	The projected benefit obligation, accumulated benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets for all pension plans, including accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets, at August 31 were as follows (in millions): 2021 2020 Projected benefit obligation $ 10,206 $ 9,905 Accumulated benefit obligation 10,200 9,901 Fair value of plan assets 1 10,475 9,614 1 Represents plan assets of The Boots plan, the Company's only funded defined benefit pension plan.
Estimated future benefit payments	Estimated future benefit payments for the next 10 years from defined benefit pension plans to participants are as follows (in millions): Estimated future benefit payments 2022 $ 291 2023 302 2024 311 2025 326 2026 344 2027-2031 1,868
Schedule of assumptions used	The assumptions used in accounting for the defined benefit pension plans were as follows: 2021 2020 Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations Discount rate 1.71 % 1.63 % Rate of compensation increase 2.80 % 3.10 % Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost Discount rate 1.39 % 1.58 % Expected long-term return on plan assets 3.50 % 3.10 % Rate of compensation increase 2.77 % 2.91 %

Accumulated other comprehensi_2

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	The following is a summary of net changes in accumulated other comprehensive income by component and net of tax for fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019 (in millions): Pension/post-retirement obligations Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges Net investment hedges Unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities Share of AOCI of equity method investments Cumulative translation adjustments Total Balance at August 31, 2018 $ 101 $ (30) $ — $ — $ 3 $ (3,076) $ (3,002) Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments (162) 1 73 — (1) (801) (889) Amounts reclassified from AOCI (17) 5 — — — — (12) Tax benefit (provision) 30 (1) (18) — — (6) 5 Net change in other comprehensive income (loss) (149) 5 55 — (1) (807) (896) Balance at August 31, 2019 $ (48) $ (24) $ 55 $ — $ 3 $ (3,884) $ (3,897) Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments (861) (12) (113) — (16) 934 (69) Amounts reclassified from AOCI (8) 5 — — — 3 — Tax benefit (provision) 169 1 23 — 3 (1) 195 Net change in other comprehensive income (loss) (700) (6) (90) — (13) 936 126 Balance at August 31, 2020 $ (748) $ (31) $ (34) $ — $ (10) $ (2,948) $ (3,771) Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments 532 10 (6) 127 (24) 384 1,022 Amounts reclassified from AOCI (8) 17 — — — (3) 6 Business disposal (4) — — 0 — 0 — 795 792 Tax benefit (provision) (132) (6) 6 (31) 6 — (157) Net change in other comprehensive income (loss) 389 21 (1) 96 (18) 1,176 1,663 Balance at August 31, 2021 $ (359) $ (10) $ (35) $ 96 $ (29) $ (1,772) $ (2,109)

Segment reporting (Tables)

Segment reporting (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Reconciliation of revenue from segments to consolidated	The following table reflects results of operations of the Company's reportable segments (in millions): For the years ending August 31, 2021 2020 2019 Sales: United States $ 112,005 $ 107,701 $ 104,532 International 20,505 14,281 15,542 Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. $ 132,509 $ 121,982 $ 120,074 Adjusted Operating income: United States $ 5,019 $ 4,761 $ 5,873 International 466 157 759 Corporate and Other (368) (187) (152) Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. $ 5,117 $ 4,730 $ 6,481 Depreciation and amortization: United States $ 1,513 $ 1,376 $ 1,454 International 399 400 433 Corporate and Other 11 10 8 Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. $ 1,923 $ 1,786 $ 1,894 Capital expenditures: United States $ 1,030 $ 1,040 $ 1,318 International 243 235 272 Corporate and Other 39 12 8 Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. $ 1,312 $ 1,287 $ 1,598
Reconciliation of operating profit (loss) from segments to consolidated	The following table reconciles adjusted operating income to operating income (in millions): For the years ending August 31, 2021 2020 2019 Adjusted operating income $ 5,117 $ 4,730 $ 6,481 Adjustments to equity earnings (loss) in AmerisourceBergen (1,645) (97) (233) Transformational cost management (417) (719) (327) Acquisition-related amortization (523) (384) (416) Certain legal and regulatory accruals and settlements (75) — (31) LIFO provision (13) (95) (136) Acquisition-related costs (54) (315) (303) Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets (49) (2,016) (73) Store optimization — (53) (196) Store damage and inventory losses — (68) — Operating income $ 2,342 $ 982 $ 4,766
Geographic data for net sales	Geographic data for sales is as follows (in millions): 2021 2020 2019 United States $ 112,005 $ 107,701 $ 104,532 United Kingdom 8,298 7,830 8,947 Germany 10,472 4,876 4,713 Other 1,734 1,575 1,882 Sales $ 132,509 $ 121,982 $ 120,074
Geographic data for long-lived assets	Geographic data for long-lived assets, defined as property, plant and equipment, is as follows (in millions): 2021 2020 United States $ 9,665 $ 10,344 United Kingdom 2,205 2,203 Other 377 250 Total long-lived assets $ 12,247 $ 12,796

Sales (Tables)

Sales (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Disaggregation of revenue	The following table summarizes the Company’s sales by segment and by major source (in millions): For the years ending August 31, 2021 2020 2019 United States Pharmacy $ 84,892 $ 80,481 $ 77,299 Retail 27,113 27,220 27,233 Total $ 112,005 $ 107,701 $ 104,532 International Pharmacy $ 3,808 $ 3,503 $ 3,653 Retail 6,225 5,902 7,177 Wholesale 10,472 4,876 4,713 Total $ 20,505 $ 14,281 $ 15,542 Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. $ 132,509 $ 121,982 $ 120,074

Related parties (Tables)

Related parties (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Schedule of related party transactions	Related party transactions with AmerisourceBergen (in millions): 2021 2020 2019 Purchases, net $ 62,513 $ 59,569 $ 57,429 Trade accounts payable, net $ 6,589 $ 6,390 $ 6,484

Supplementary financial infor_2

Supplementary financial information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Supplementary Financial Information [Abstract]
Summary of quarterly results	Summary of Quarterly Results (Unaudited) (in millions, except per share amounts) Quarter ended November February May August Fiscal year Fiscal 2021 Sales $ 31,438 $ 32,779 $ 34,030 $ 34,262 $ 132,509 Gross profit $ 6,630 $ 6,781 $ 7,153 $ 7,503 $ 28,067 Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. Continuing operations $ (391) $ 922 $ 1,105 $ 358 $ 1,994 Discontinued operations 83 104 92 268 548 Total $ (308) $ 1,026 $ 1,197 $ 627 $ 2,542 Basic earnings (loss) per common share: Continuing operations $ (0.45) $ 1.07 $ 1.28 $ 0.41 $ 2.31 Discontinued operations 0.10 0.12 0.11 0.31 0.63 Total $ (0.36) $ 1.19 $ 1.38 $ 0.72 $ 2.94 Diluted earnings (loss) per common share: Continuing operations $ (0.45) $ 1.06 $ 1.27 $ 0.41 $ 2.30 Discontinued operations 0.10 0.12 0.11 0.31 0.63 Total $ (0.36) $ 1.19 $ 1.38 $ 0.72 $ 2.93 Cash dividends declared per common share $ 0.4675 $ 0.4675 $ 0.4675 $ 0.4775 $ 1.8800 Fiscal 2020 Sales $ 29,912 $ 31,336 $ 30,364 $ 30,371 $ 121,982 Gross profit $ 6,777 $ 7,017 $ 5,959 $ 6,324 $ 26,078 Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. Continuing operations $ 769 $ 867 $ (1,794) $ 337 $ 180 Discontinued operations 76 79 86 36 277 Total $ 845 $ 946 $ (1,708) $ 373 $ 456 Basic earnings (loss) per common share: Continuing operations $ 0.86 $ 0.98 $ (2.05) $ 0.39 $ 0.20 Discontinued operations 0.08 0.09 0.10 0.04 0.31 Total $ 0.95 $ 1.07 $ (1.95) $ 0.43 $ 0.52 Diluted earnings (loss) per common share: Continuing operations $ 0.86 $ 0.98 $ (2.05) $ 0.39 $ 0.20 Discontinued operations 0.08 0.09 0.10 0.04 0.31 Total $ 0.95 $ 1.07 $ (1.95) $ 0.43 $ 0.52 Cash dividends declared per common share $ 0.4575 $ 0.4575 $ 0.4575 $ 0.4675 $ 1.8400 See Note 2 Discontinued operations, for additional details on discontinued operations.

Summary of major accounting p_4

Summary of major accounting policies - narrative (Details) $ in Millions	Jan. 06, 2021USD ($)shares	Aug. 31, 2021USD ($)segment	Aug. 31, 2021USD ($)shares	Aug. 31, 2020USD ($)shares	Aug. 31, 2019USD ($)shares	Jun. 01, 2021USD ($)
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments | segment		2
Minimum number of days for settlement of credit and debit charges			1 day
Maximum number of days for settlement of credit and debit charges			7 days
Credit and debit card receivables		$ 146	$ 146	$ 101
Other cash flows from operating activities			(64)	464	$ 302
Asset impairment charges			203	462	328
Gains on sale-leaseback transactions			367	308
Allowance for doubtful accounts		53	53	26
Inventories		$ 8,159	8,159	7,917
Depreciation and amortization expense			$ 1,400	1,400	1,400
Term of renewal contract		5 years	5 years
Redeemable noncontrolling interest		$ 319	$ 319
Advertising expense			772	532	582
Impairment of definite-lived assets			$ 49	$ 2,016	$ 0
Expected performance goal achievement rate			100.00%
Outstanding options to purchase common shares excluded from earnings per share calculations (in shares) | shares			17,200,000	19,000,000	14,900,000
Trade Accounts Receivable
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts receivable		4,500	$ 4,500	$ 3,000
Other Accounts Receivable
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts receivable		$ 1,100	$ 1,100	1,100
Minimum
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Term of lease		15 years	15 years
Highly effective hedging percentage		80.00%	80.00%
Maximum
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Term of lease		25 years	25 years
Highly effective hedging percentage		125.00%	125.00%
Capitalized system development costs and software
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Amortization of capitalized system development costs and software			$ 284	300	$ 260
Unamortized capitalized software costs		$ 1,900	$ 1,900	1,600
Capitalized system development costs and software | Minimum
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Estimated useful life			3 years
Capitalized system development costs and software | Maximum
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Estimated useful life			10 years
Selling, general and administrative expense
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Impairment of definite-lived assets			$ 182	401	$ 163
United States | Reportable Segments
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Inventories		6,200	6,200	6,400
LIFO reserve		3,300	3,300	3,300
International | Reportable Segments
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Inventories		$ 2,000	$ 2,000	$ 1,500
Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale | Alliance Healthcare
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Consideration from disposal	$ 6,500					$ 6,900
Cash portion of consideration	$ 6,275					$ 6,275
Shares issued as part of disposal (in shares) | shares	2,000,000

Summary of major accounting p_5

Summary of major accounting policies - reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 31, 2018
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,193	$ 469
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	1,270	746	$ 1,207	$ 975
Continuing operations
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	1,193	469
Restricted cash	77	62
Discontinued operations
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	0	47
Restricted cash	$ 0	$ 168

Summary of major accounting p_6

Summary of major accounting policies - property plant and equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	$ 25,321	$ 24,927
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	13,073	12,131
Property and equipment, net	$ 12,247	12,796
Land and land improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	20 years
Property and equipment	$ 2,798	3,157
Buildings and building improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	$ 7,569	7,795
Buildings and building improvements | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	3 years
Buildings and building improvements | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	50 years
Fixtures and equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	$ 10,314	9,904
Fixtures and equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	3 years
Fixtures and equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	20 years
Capitalized system development costs and software
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	$ 3,624	3,061
Capitalized system development costs and software | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	3 years
Capitalized system development costs and software | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	10 years
Finance lease properties
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	$ 1,016	$ 1,011

Discontinued operations - narra

Discontinued operations - narrative (Details) - Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale - Alliance Healthcare - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 01, 2021	Jan. 06, 2021	Aug. 31, 2021
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Consideration from disposal	$ 6,900	$ 6,500
Cash portion of consideration	6,275	$ 6,275
Shares issued as part of disposal (in shares)		2,000,000
Proceeds from disposal, subject to net working capital and net cash adjustments	6,700
Estimated gain before currency translation adjustments	1,100
Net gain on disposal	$ 322
Receivable for purchase consideration			$ 98

Discontinued operations - sched

Discontinued operations - schedule of transaction proceeds and net assets disposed (Details) - Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale - Alliance Healthcare - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 01, 2021	Jan. 06, 2021
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Estimated fair value of proceeds from disposition	$ 6,900
Estimated net assets disposed	5,800
Estimated gain before currency translation adjustments	1,100
Estimated amount of currency translation loss released due to disposition	(800)
Net gain on disposal of discontinued operation	322
Base consideration	$ 6,275	$ 6,275

Discontinued operations - sch_2

Discontinued operations - schedules of results from discontinued operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 01, 2021	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures [Abstract]
Net earnings from discontinued operations		$ 557	$ 286	$ 172
Gain on sale of business		322	0	0
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets, Current [Abstract]
Assets of discontinued operations - current		0	4,979
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets, Noncurrent [Abstract]
Assets of discontinued operations - non-current		0	4,983
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Liabilities, Current [Abstract]
Liabilities of discontinued operations - current		0	5,347
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Liabilities, Noncurrent [Abstract]
Liabilities of discontinued operations - non-current		0	412
Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale | Alliance Healthcare
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures [Abstract]
Sales		16,070	19,349	18,618
Cost of sales		14,486	17,409	16,701
Gross profit		1,584	1,940	1,917
Selling, general and administrative expense		1,254	1,610	1,685
Operating income from discontinued operations		329	330	232
Other income (expense)		314
Other income (expense)			(8)	(11)
Interest expense, net		(23)	(25)	(54)
Earnings before income tax – discontinued operations		621	297	168
Income tax provision		78	21	11
Post tax earnings from other equity method investments		15	10	15
Net earnings from discontinued operations		557	286	172
Divestiture related costs	$ 44
Gain on sale of business	$ 322
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Sales		16,070	19,349	18,618
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Discontinued Operations [Abstract]
Cash (used in) provided by operating activities - discontinued operations		(132)	334	302
Cash (used in) provided by for investing activities - discontinued operations		(58)	(80)	(97)
Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale | Alliance Healthcare | Continuing Operations
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures [Abstract]
Sales		1,385	1,794	1,826
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Sales		1,385	1,794	$ 1,826
Discontinued Operations, Held-for-sale | Alliance Healthcare
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets, Current [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents		0	47
Accounts receivable, net		0	3,022
Inventories		0	1,534
Other current assets		0	376
Assets of discontinued operations - current		0	4,979
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets, Noncurrent [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, net		0	816
Goodwill and intangibles		0	3,936
Other non-current assets		0	230
Assets of discontinued operations - non-current		0	4,983
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Liabilities, Current [Abstract]
Short term debt		0	273
Trade accounts payables		0	4,313
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		0	746
Income taxes		0	14
Liabilities of discontinued operations - current		0	5,347
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Liabilities, Noncurrent [Abstract]
Deferred income taxes		0	131
Other non-current liabilities		0	280
Liabilities of discontinued operations - non-current		$ 0	$ 412

Acquisitions - narrative (Detai

Acquisitions - narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 29, 2020	Nov. 01, 2020	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Innovation Associates, Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash consideration	$ 451
McKesson Corporation, GEHE Pharma Handel
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Controlling interest percentage		70.00%
Noncash purchase consideration		$ 296
Noncontrolling interest recognized from acquisition		$ 175
Other Acquisitions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash consideration			$ 108	$ 258

Acquisitions - schedule of purc

Acquisitions - schedule of purchase price allocation and identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 29, 2020	Nov. 01, 2020	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Goodwill			$ 12,421	$ 12,013	$ 13,542
Innovation Associates, Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total Consideration	$ 477
Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Tangible assets	58
Developed technology and other intangibles	202
Liabilities	(74)
Total identifiable net assets	186
Non-controlling interest	103
Goodwill	$ 394
McKesson Corporation, GEHE Pharma Handel
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total Consideration		$ 331
Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Accounts receivable, cash and other assets		582
Inventories		470
Property, plant and equipment		125
Short term debt		(296)
Trade accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities		(374)
Other noncurrent liabilities		(197)
Total identifiable net assets		311
Goodwill		$ 21

Acquisitions - schedule of pro

Acquisitions - schedule of pro forma and actual results (Details) - McKesson Corporation, GEHE Pharma Handel - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Sales, pro forma	$ 133,553	$ 127,817
Sales, actual	$ 5,099

Exit and disposal activities -

Exit and disposal activities - narrative (Details) $ in Millions	Oct. 12, 2021USD ($)store	Dec. 20, 2018USD ($)	Oct. 24, 2017store	Jul. 31, 2021store	Aug. 31, 2021USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2020USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2019USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2020USD ($)store	Sep. 01, 2019USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2018USD ($)
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Cumulative effect adjustment to decrease retained earnings					$ (23,822)	$ (21,136)	$ (24,152)	$ (21,136)		$ (26,689)
Adoption of new accounting standards
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Cumulative effect adjustment to decrease retained earnings						6	442	6		88
Retained earnings
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Cumulative effect adjustment to decrease retained earnings					(35,121)	(34,210)	(35,815)	(34,210)		(33,551)
Retained earnings | Adoption of new accounting standards
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Cumulative effect adjustment to decrease retained earnings						3	442	$ 3		$ 88
Transformational cost management program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Costs incurred					1,300
Restructuring costs					335	665	282
Transformational cost management program | United Kingdom
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of stores expected to close | store				200
Transformational cost management program | United Kingdom | Subsequent event
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of stores expected to close | store	150
Transformational cost management program | United States
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of stores expected to close | store				250
Transformational cost management program | United States | Subsequent event
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of stores expected to close | store	150
Transformational cost management program | Retained earnings | Adoption of new accounting standards
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Cumulative effect adjustment to decrease retained earnings									$ 508
Store optimization program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of stores expected to close | store			600
Number of stores closed | store								769
Lease obligations and other real estate costs | Transformational cost management program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Costs incurred					353
Restructuring costs					108	215	30
Lease obligations and other real estate costs | Store optimization program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring costs						22
Asset impairments | Transformational cost management program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Costs incurred					252
Restructuring costs					24	72	156
Employee severance and business transition costs | Transformational cost management program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Costs incurred					513
Restructuring costs					165	270	78
Information technology transformation and other exit costs | Transformational cost management program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Costs incurred					163
Restructuring costs					38	108	$ 17
Employee severance and other exit costs | Store optimization program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring costs						$ 31
Minimum | Transformational cost management program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected annual cost savings of restructuring plan		$ 2,000
Expected restructuring costs					3,600
Minimum | Transformational cost management program | Subsequent event
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected annual cost savings of restructuring plan	$ 3,300
Minimum | Exit and disposal costs | Transformational cost management program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring costs					3,300
Maximum | Transformational cost management program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring costs					3,900
Maximum | Exit and disposal costs | Transformational cost management program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring costs					$ 3,600

Exit and disposal activities _2

Exit and disposal activities - restructuring costs (Details) - Transformational cost management program - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	$ 335	$ 665	$ 282
Reportable Segments | United States
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	217	444	147
Reportable Segments | International
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	72	163	134
Corporate and Other
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	46	58	1
Lease obligations and other real estate costs
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	108	215	30
Lease obligations and other real estate costs | Reportable Segments | United States
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	103	191	5
Lease obligations and other real estate costs | Reportable Segments | International
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	6	9	26
Lease obligations and other real estate costs | Corporate and Other
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	0	14	0
Asset impairments
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	24	72	156
Asset impairments | Reportable Segments | United States
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	15	51	95
Asset impairments | Reportable Segments | International
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	9	19	61
Asset impairments | Corporate and Other
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	0	2	0
Employee severance and business transition costs
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	165	270	78
Employee severance and business transition costs | Reportable Segments | United States
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	79	132	41
Employee severance and business transition costs | Reportable Segments | International
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	40	93	37
Employee severance and business transition costs | Corporate and Other
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	45	45	1
Information technology transformation and other exit costs
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	38	108	17
Information technology transformation and other exit costs | Reportable Segments | United States
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	20	70	6
Information technology transformation and other exit costs | Reportable Segments | International
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	17	42	10
Information technology transformation and other exit costs | Corporate and Other
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Abstract]
Total pre-tax exit and disposal charges	$ 0	$ (4)	$ 0

Exit and disposal activities _3

Exit and disposal activities - restructuring reserve activity (Details) - Transformational cost management program - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 199	$ 47
Costs	335	665
Payments	(351)	(276)
Other - non cash	(70)	(236)
ASC 842 leases adoption		(4)
Currency	1	3
Ending balance	114	199
Lease obligations and other real estate costs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	19	17
Costs	108	215
Payments	(69)	(44)
Other - non cash	(42)	(166)
ASC 842 leases adoption		(4)
Currency	0	1
Ending balance	17	19
Asset impairments
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	0	0
Costs	24	72
Payments	0	0
Other - non cash	(24)	(72)
ASC 842 leases adoption		0
Currency	0	0
Ending balance	0	0
Employee severance and business transition costs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	166	27
Costs	165	270
Payments	(252)	(146)
Other - non cash	(4)	13
ASC 842 leases adoption		0
Currency	2	2
Ending balance	77	166
Information technology transformation and other exit costs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	14	3
Costs	38	108
Payments	(31)	(86)
Other - non cash	0	(11)
ASC 842 leases adoption		0
Currency	(1)	0
Ending balance	$ 20	$ 14

Leases - supplemental balance s

Leases - supplemental balance sheet information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Operating Leases:
Operating lease right-of-use assets	$ 21,893	$ 21,453
Operating lease obligations - current	2,259	2,358
Operating lease obligations - non current	22,153	21,765
Total operating lease obligations	24,412	24,123
Finance Leases:
Property, plant and equipment, net	725	766
Lease obligations included in:
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	37	31
Other non-current liabilities	974	1,013
Total finance lease obligations	$ 1,010	$ 1,044
Finance Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	Property, Plant, and Equipment and Finance Lease Right-of-Use Asset, after Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	Property, Plant, and Equipment and Finance Lease Right-of-Use Asset, after Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization
Finance Lease, Liability, Current, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	Accrued expenses and other liabilities	Accrued expenses and other liabilities
Finance Lease, Liability, Noncurrent, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	Other non-current liabilities	Other non-current liabilities

Leases - supplemental income st

Leases - supplemental income statement information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Operating lease cost
Fixed	$ 3,219	$ 3,252
Variable	664	750
Finance lease cost
Amortization	45	40
Interest	52	54
Sublease income	84	75
Impairment of right-of-use assets	86	213
Impairment of finance lease assets	0	24
Gains on sale-leaseback transactions	$ 367	$ 308

Leases - narrative (Details)

Leases - narrative (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2019USD ($)
Leases [Abstract]
Rent expense prior to adoption	$ 3,552
Minimum rentals prior to adoption	3,550
Contingent rentals prior to adoption	67
Sublease rental income prior to adoption	$ 66

Leases - other supplemental inf

Leases - other supplemental information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease obligations
Operating cash flows from operating leases	$ 3,414	$ 3,251
Operating cash flows from finance leases	48	48
Financing cash flows from finance leases	42	47
Total	3,503	3,346
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new lease obligations:
Operating leases	2,765	2,443
Finance leases	0	65
Total	$ 2,765	$ 2,508

Leases - average lease terms an

Leases - average lease terms and discount rates (Details)	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Weighted average remaining lease term in years:
Operating leases	10 years 3 months 18 days	10 years 8 months 12 days
Finance leases	20 years 2 months 12 days	20 years 7 months 6 days
Weighted average discount rate
Operating leases	4.77%	4.97%
Finance leases	5.18%	5.14%

Leases - future lease payments

Leases - future lease payments for operating and finance leases (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Finance lease
2022	$ 89
2023	88
2024	88
2025	87
2026	86
Later	1,142
Total undiscounted minimum lease payments	1,580
Less: Present value discount	(570)
Lease liability	1,010	$ 1,044
Operating lease
2022	3,439
2023	3,342
2024	3,224
2025	3,102
2026	2,982
Later	15,210
Total undiscounted minimum lease payments	31,299
Less: Present value discount	(6,887)
Lease liability	$ 24,412	$ 24,123

Equity method investments - car

Equity method investments - carrying value (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Carrying value	$ 6,987	$ 7,204
AmerisourceBergen
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Carrying value	$ 4,407	$ 5,446
Ownership percentage	28.00%	28.00%
Others
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Carrying value	$ 2,580	$ 1,758
Others | Minimum
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	8.00%	8.00%
Others | Maximum
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	50.00%	50.00%

Equity method investments - nar

Equity method investments - narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Loss from equity method investment		$ 1,139
Equity earnings (loss)		(498)	$ 382	$ 187
Gain on sale of equity method investment		$ 321	$ 0	0
AmerisourceBergen
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Outstanding shares owned (in shares)		58,854,867	56,854,867
Percentage of outstanding common shares owned		28.50%	27.90%
Equity investment, exceeded its proportionate share of net assets		$ 4,400
AmerisourceBergen | Opiod Litigation
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity earnings (loss)	$ (5,600)
AmerisourceBergen | Level 1
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Fair value of assets		7,200	$ 5,500
Others
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity earnings (loss)		627	$ 31	$ 8
Option Care Health
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity earnings (loss)		576
Gain on sale of equity method investment		290
Option Care Health | HC Group Holdings I, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Gain on sale of equity method investment		1,200
VillageMD
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Consideration transferred to acquire equity method investments		750
Payments to acquire equity method investments		250
Investment in convertible debt		$ 500

Equity method investments - sum

Equity method investments - summarized financial information of equity method investees (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	May 31, 2021	Feb. 28, 2021	Nov. 30, 2020	Aug. 31, 2020	May 31, 2020	Feb. 29, 2020	Nov. 30, 2019	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 31, 2018
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Current assets	$ 15,814				$ 18,073				$ 15,814	$ 18,073
Non-current assets	65,471				69,101				65,471	69,101
Current liabilities	22,054				27,070				22,054	27,070
Non-current liabilities	35,091				38,968				35,091	38,968
Shareholders' equity	23,822				21,136				23,822	21,136	$ 24,152	$ 26,689
Noncontrolling interests	402				498				402	498
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales	34,262	$ 34,030	$ 32,779	$ 31,438	30,371	$ 30,364	$ 31,336	$ 29,912	132,509	121,982	120,074
Gross profit	7,503	$ 7,153	$ 6,781	$ 6,630	6,324	$ 5,959	$ 7,017	$ 6,777	28,067	26,078	28,159
Net earnings (loss)									2,512	424	3,962
Share of earnings (loss) from equity method investments									(512)	372	172
Equity Method Investment
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Current assets	49,538				39,167				49,538	39,167
Non-current assets	27,442				18,138				27,442	18,138
Current liabilities	48,766				38,034				48,766	38,034
Non-current liabilities	22,046				10,600				22,046	10,600
Shareholders' equity	6,168				8,671				6,168	8,671
Noncontrolling interests	$ 646				$ 387				646	387
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales									232,719	208,625	195,540
Gross profit									10,889	8,707	7,303
Net earnings (loss)									$ (3,475)	$ 1,624	$ 997

Goodwill and other intangible_3

Goodwill and other intangible assets - narrative (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2020USD ($)reporting_unit	Aug. 31, 2019USD ($)	Jun. 01, 2021	Jun. 01, 2020
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 12,421	$ 12,013	$ 13,542
Indefinite lived intangible assets	7,342	$ 7,231
Number of reporting segments included in impairment analysis | reporting_unit		2
Goodwill impairment loss		$ 1,675
Impairment of definite-lived intangible assets	0	47
Amortization expense for intangible assets	523	384	473
Minimum
Goodwill [Line Items]
Percentage of reporting unit fair value in excess of carrying amount				18.00%
Maximum
Goodwill [Line Items]
Percentage of reporting unit fair value in excess of carrying amount				195.00%
Pharmacy licenses
Goodwill [Line Items]
Indefinite lived intangible assets	2,066	2,028
Other International Reporting Unit
Goodwill [Line Items]
Percentage of reporting unit fair value in excess of carrying amount				29.00%	4.00%
Goodwill	400
Boots Reporting Unit
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	1,100
Impairment of intangible assets	49	300
Indefinite lived intangible assets	$ 7,300	7,200
Goodwill impairment loss		$ 1,700
Boots Reporting Unit | Trade names | Minimum
Goodwill [Line Items]
Percentage of reporting unit fair value in excess of carrying amount	5.00%
Boots Reporting Unit | Trade names | Maximum
Goodwill [Line Items]
Percentage of reporting unit fair value in excess of carrying amount	27.00%
Boots Reporting Unit | Pharmacy licenses
Goodwill [Line Items]
Impairment of intangible assets			$ 73

Goodwill and other intangible_4

Goodwill and other intangible assets - schedule of goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 29, 2020	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		$ 12,013	$ 13,542
Acquisitions		414	62
Impairment			(1,675)
Currency translation adjustments		(7)	83
Ending balance		12,421	12,013
Rite Aid Corporation Distribution Centers
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions			62
Payments to acquire business			91
Innovation Associates, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions		394
Ending balance	$ 394
Payments to acquire business	$ 451
McKesson Corporation, GEHE Pharma Handel
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions		21
Reportable Segments | United States
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		10,553	10,491
Acquisitions		394	62
Impairment			0
Currency translation adjustments		0	0
Ending balance		10,947	10,553
Reportable Segments | International
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		1,460	3,051
Acquisitions		21	0
Impairment			(1,675)
Currency translation adjustments		(7)	83
Ending balance		$ 1,474	$ 1,460

Goodwill and other intangible_5

Goodwill and other intangible assets - schedule of finite-lived intangible assets by major class (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total gross amortizable intangible assets	$ 4,421	$ 4,247
Total accumulated amortization	1,826	1,406
Total amortizable intangible assets, net	2,595	2,841
Total indefinite-lived intangible assets	7,342	7,231
Total intangible assets, net	9,936	10,072
Tradenames and trademarks
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total indefinite-lived intangible assets	5,276	5,203
Pharmacy licenses
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total indefinite-lived intangible assets	2,066	2,028
Customer relationships and loyalty card holders
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total gross amortizable intangible assets	3,522	3,502
Total accumulated amortization	1,335	1,089
Tradenames and trademarks
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total gross amortizable intangible assets	361	348
Total accumulated amortization	226	196
Purchasing and payer contracts
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total gross amortizable intangible assets	317	337
Total accumulated amortization	227	95
Others
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total gross amortizable intangible assets	221	60
Total accumulated amortization	$ 37	$ 26

Goodwill and other intangible_6

Goodwill and other intangible assets - schedule of finite-lived intangible assets, future amortization expense (Details) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021USD ($)
Estimated annual amortization expense
2022	$ 444
2023	330
2024	311
2025	276
2026	$ 258

Debt - short and long-term debt

Debt - short and long-term debt (Details)	Apr. 26, 2021USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2021USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2020USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2019USD ($)	Sep. 18, 2021USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2021GBP (£)	Aug. 31, 2021EUR (€)	Apr. 23, 2021USD ($)	Apr. 09, 2021USD ($)	Oct. 20, 2020GBP (£)	Apr. 15, 2020USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total short-term debt		$ 1,305,000,000	$ 3,265,000,000
Other		29,000,000	24,000,000
Total long-term debt, less current portion		7,675,000,000	12,203,000,000
Long-term debt purchased and retired		15,257,000,000	21,414,000,000	$ 10,461,000,000
Loss on early extinguishment of debt		$ 414,000,000	0	$ 0
2.875% unsecured pound sterling notes due 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount | £						£ 700,000,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		2.875%				2.875%	2.875%			2.875%
Total short-term debt		$ 0	533,000,000
Debt redeemed | £										£ 400,000,000
3.300% unsecured notes due 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount		$ 8,000,000,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		3.30%				3.30%	3.30%
Total short-term debt		$ 1,250,000,000	0
3.300% unsecured notes due 2021 | Forecast
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt redeemed					$ 1,250,000,000
Other
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total short-term debt		56,000,000	144,000,000
$1.5 billion debt issuance
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount											$ 1,500,000,000
Unsecured notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt purchased and retired	$ 3,300,000,000
Weighted average interest rate of long-term debt purchased and retired	4.02%
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	$ 414,000,000	$ 387,000,000
Redemption premiums paid in cash	386,000,000
Unsecured notes | 3.300% unsecured notes due 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		3.30%				3.30%	3.30%
Long-term debt		$ 0	1,248,000,000
Unsecured notes | $1.5 billion debt issuance
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount		$ 1,500,000,000
Unsecured notes | 3.200% unsecured notes due 2030
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount											$ 500,000,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		3.20%				3.20%	3.20%				3.20%
Long-term debt		$ 497,000,000	497,000,000
Unsecured notes | 4.100% unsecured notes due 2050
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount											$ 1,000,000,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		4.10%				4.10%	4.10%				4.10%
Long-term debt		$ 792,000,000	990,000,000
Debt redeemed	$ 200,000,000
Unsecured notes | Total $6 billion note issuance
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount		$ 6,000,000,000
Unsecured notes | 3.450% unsecured notes due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		3.45%				3.45%	3.45%
Long-term debt		$ 1,442,000,000	1,891,000,000
Unsecured notes | 4.650% unsecured notes due 2046
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		4.65%				4.65%	4.65%
Long-term debt		$ 318,000,000	591,000,000
Unsecured notes | Total $8 billion note issuance
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount		$ 8,000,000,000
Unsecured notes | 3.800% unsecured notes due 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		3.80%				3.80%	3.80%
Long-term debt		$ 1,154,000,000	1,993,000,000
Unsecured notes | 4.500% unsecured notes due 2034
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		4.50%				4.50%	4.50%
Long-term debt		$ 301,000,000	496,000,000
Unsecured notes | 4.800% unsecured notes due 2044
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		4.80%				4.80%	4.80%
Long-term debt		$ 868,000,000	1,493,000,000
Unsecured notes | Total £700 million note issuance
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount | £						£ 700,000,000
Unsecured notes | 3.600% unsecured Pound sterling notes due 2025
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		3.60%				3.60%	3.60%
Long-term debt		$ 408,000,000	398,000,000
Unsecured notes | Total €750 million note issuance
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount | €							€ 750,000,000
Unsecured notes | 2.125% unsecured Euro notes due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		2.125%				2.125%	2.125%
Long-term debt		$ 873,000,000	891,000,000
Unsecured notes | Total $4 billion note issuance
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount		$ 4,000,000,000
Unsecured notes | 3.100% unsecured notes due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		3.10%				3.10%	3.10%
Long-term debt		$ 731,000,000	1,198,000,000
Unsecured notes | 4.400% unsecured notes due 2042
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		4.40%				4.40%	4.40%
Long-term debt		$ 263,000,000	493,000,000
Term loan | April 2021 credit agreement | Credit facilities
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity								$ 3,800,000,000	$ 2,800,000,000
Commercial paper
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total short-term debt		0	1,517,000,000
Credit facilities
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total short-term debt		$ 0	$ 1,071,000,000

Debt - long-term debt by future

Debt - long-term debt by future maturity (Details) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021USD ($)
Long Term Debt by Future Maturity [Abstract]
2022	$ 1,305
2023	733
2024	2
2025	1,163
2026	1,858
Later	3,957
Total estimated future maturities	$ 9,018

Debt - narrative (Details)

Debt - narrative (Details) € in Millions

Apr. 26, 2021USD ($)

Dec. 23, 2020USD ($)

Aug. 31, 2021USD ($)

Aug. 31, 2021EUR (€)

Aug. 31, 2020USD ($)

Aug. 31, 2019USD ($)

Apr. 23, 2021USD ($)

Apr. 09, 2021USD ($)

May 29, 2020USD ($)

Apr. 15, 2020USD ($)

Apr. 07, 2020USD ($)

Apr. 02, 2020USD ($)

Apr. 01, 2020USD ($)

Aug. 30, 2019USD ($)agreement

Jan. 18, 2019USD ($)

Dec. 05, 2018USD ($)

Aug. 29, 2018USD ($)

Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]

Long-term debt purchased and retired

$ 15,257,000,000

$ 21,414,000,000

$ 10,461,000,000

Interest paid, net of capitalized interest

916,000,000

584,000,000

676,000,000

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

414,000,000

0

$ 0

Commercial paper

Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]

Average daily short-term borrowings

$ 1,900,000,000

$ 2,500,000,000

Weighted-average interest rate

0.45%

2.15%

Commercial paper, amount outstanding

$ 0

Commercial paper | Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities

Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]

Average daily short-term borrowings

$ 424,000,000

€ 300

Weighted-average interest rate for subsidiaries borrowings

0.43%

0.43%

Maximum

Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]

Debt to total capitalization ratio

0.60

$1.5 billion debt issuance

Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]

Face amount

$ 1,500,000,000

Underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses

$ 13,000,000

Unsecured notes

Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]

Long-term debt purchased and retired

$ 3,300,000,000

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

414,000,000

387,000,000

Unsecured notes | $1.5 billion debt issuance

Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]

Face amount

$ 1,500,000,000

Unsecured notes | 3.200% unsecured notes due 2030

Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]

Face amount

$ 500,000,000

Stated interest rate (as a percent)

3.20%

3.20%

Unsecured notes | 4.100% unsecured notes due 2050

Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]

Face amount

$ 1,000,000,000

Stated interest rate (as a percent)

4.10%

4.10%

Debt retired

$ 200,000,000

Unsecured notes | December 2018 Term Loan Credit Agreement

Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]

Face amount

$ 1,000,000,000

Credit facilities | December 23, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement, 364-Day Facility

Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]

Maximum borrowing capacity

$ 1,250,000,000

Credit facilities | December 23, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement, 18-Month Revolving Credit Facility

Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]

Maximum borrowing capacity

$ 2,250,000,000

Debt term

18 months

Borrowings outstanding

$ 0

Credit facilities | April 7, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement

Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]

Maximum borrowing capacity

$ 500,000,000

Credit facilities | April 2020 Revolving Bilateral Credit Agreement

Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]

Maximum borrowing capacity

$ 750,000,000

Credit facilities | April 2020 Revolving Club Credit Agreement

Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]

Maximum borrowing capacity

$ 1,325,000,000

Credit facilities | August 2019 Revolving Credit Agreements

Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]

Maximum borrowing capacity

$ 500,000,000

Number of credit agreements | agreement

3

Credit facilities | January 2019 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement

Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]

Maximum borrowing capacity

$ 2,000,000,000

Credit facilities | A&R December 2018 Credit Agreement

Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]

Face amount

2,000,000,000

Credit facilities | August 2018 Revolving Credit Agreement

Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]

Face amount

$ 3,500,000,000

Borrowings outstanding

$ 0

Credit facilities | Line of Credit | Amended November 2018 Credit Agreement

Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]

Maximum borrowing capacity

$ 500,000,000

Credit facilities | Unsecured notes | A&R December 2018 Credit Agreement

Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]

Face amount

$ 1,000,000,000

Credit facilities | Unsecured notes | Amended November 2018 Credit Agreement

Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]

Maximum borrowing capacity

$ 1,000,000,000

Credit facilities | Term loan | April 2021 Credit Agreement

Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]

Maximum borrowing capacity

$ 3,800,000,000

$ 2,800,000,000

Letter of Credit | August 2018 Revolving Credit Agreement

Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]

Face amount

$ 500,000,000

Bridge Loan | December 23, 2020 Revolving Credit Agreement, 18-Month Revolving Credit Facility

Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]

Maximum borrowing capacity

$ 350,000,000

Financial instruments - derivat

Financial instruments - derivative instruments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Cross currency interest rate swaps | Derivatives designated as hedges: | Other non-current assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional amount, assets	$ 155	$ 722
Fair value, assets	1	16
Cross currency interest rate swaps | Derivatives designated as hedges: | Other current assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional amount, assets		50
Fair value, assets		0
Cross currency interest rate swaps | Derivatives designated as hedges: | Other non-current liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional amount, liabilities	801	318
Fair value, liabilities	23	13
Cross currency interest rate swaps | Derivatives designated as hedges: | Other current liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional amount, liabilities	109	103
Fair value, liabilities	9	3
Foreign currency forwards | Derivatives designated as hedges: | Other non-current assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional amount, assets	6
Fair value, assets	0
Foreign currency forwards | Derivatives designated as hedges: | Other current assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional amount, assets	575	100
Fair value, assets	7	1
Foreign currency forwards | Derivatives designated as hedges: | Other non-current liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional amount, liabilities	23	49
Fair value, liabilities	1	1
Foreign currency forwards | Derivatives designated as hedges: | Other current liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional amount, liabilities	31	671
Fair value, liabilities	1	23
Foreign currency forwards | Derivatives not designated as hedges: | Other current assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional amount, assets	3,636	1,930
Fair value, assets	38	19
Foreign currency forwards | Derivatives not designated as hedges: | Other current liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional amount, liabilities	808	2,934
Fair value, liabilities	3	56
Interest rate swaps | Derivatives designated as hedges: | Other non-current liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional amount, liabilities		1,000
Fair value, liabilities		10
Total return swap | Derivatives not designated as hedges: | Other current assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional amount, assets	224
Fair value, assets	2
Total return swap | Derivatives not designated as hedges: | Other current liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional amount, liabilities	37	205
Fair value, liabilities	$ 0	$ 1

Financial instruments - warrant

Financial instruments - warrants (Details) - Derivatives not designated as hedges: - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Foreign currency forwards | Selling, general and administrative expense
Warrants [Abstract]
Gains (losses) due to changes in fair value of derivative instruments	$ (75)	$ (63)	$ 139
Foreign currency forwards | Other income (expense)
Warrants [Abstract]
Gains (losses) due to changes in fair value of derivative instruments	(8)	11	(18)
Total return swap | Selling, general and administrative expense
Warrants [Abstract]
Gains (losses) due to changes in fair value of derivative instruments	$ 58	$ 24	$ 0

Fair value measurements (Detail

Fair value measurements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Liabilities [Abstract]
Carrying value of long-term notes outstanding	$ 9,018
Carrying Value
Liabilities [Abstract]
Carrying value of long-term notes outstanding	8,900
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement
Liabilities [Abstract]
Fair value of long-term notes outstanding	9,800
Recurring
Assets [Abstract]
Money market funds	634	$ 6
Investment in equity securities	2	1
Investments in debt securities	663
Recurring | Level 1
Assets [Abstract]
Money market funds	634	6
Investment in equity securities	2	1
Investments in debt securities	0
Recurring | Level 2
Assets [Abstract]
Money market funds	0	0
Investment in equity securities	0	0
Investments in debt securities	0
Recurring | Level 3
Assets [Abstract]
Money market funds	0	0
Investment in equity securities	0	0
Investments in debt securities	663
Recurring | Foreign currency forwards
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative asset	46	20
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability	5	80
Recurring | Foreign currency forwards | Level 1
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative asset	0	0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability	0	0
Recurring | Foreign currency forwards | Level 2
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative asset	46	20
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability	5	80
Recurring | Foreign currency forwards | Level 3
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative asset	0	0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability	0	0
Recurring | Cross currency interest rate swaps
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative asset	1	16
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability	32	16
Recurring | Cross currency interest rate swaps | Level 1
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative asset	0	0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability	0	0
Recurring | Cross currency interest rate swaps | Level 2
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative asset	1	16
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability	32	16
Recurring | Cross currency interest rate swaps | Level 3
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative asset	0	0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability	0	0
Recurring | Total return swap
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative asset	2
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability		1
Recurring | Total return swap | Level 1
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative asset	0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability		0
Recurring | Total return swap | Level 2
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative asset	2
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability		1
Recurring | Total return swap | Level 3
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative asset	$ 0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability		0
Recurring | Interest rate swaps
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability		10
Recurring | Interest rate swaps | Level 1
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability		0
Recurring | Interest rate swaps | Level 2
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability		10
Recurring | Interest rate swaps | Level 3
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liability		$ 0

Income taxes - narrative (Detai

Income taxes - narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 31, 2018
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, measurement period adjustment, income tax benefit			$ 247
Deferred tax assets, tax attributes	$ 7,467	$ 6,781
Income tax credits	97
Deferred tax assets operating loss carryforwards subject to expiration	7,100
Deferred tax assets operating loss carryforwards not subject to expiration	398
Valuation allowance	7,239	6,490
Income taxes paid	336	626	893
Unrecognized tax benefits	1,098	494	455	$ 456
Unrecognized tax benefits reported against deferred taxes	475
Unrecognized tax benefits reported against tax receivables	114
Unrecognized tax benefits would favorably impact the effective tax rate if recognized	524	353	$ 311
Decrease in unrecognized tax benefits is reasonably possible	132
Accrued interest and penalties in income tax provision	84	58
Interest and penalties included in income tax expense	26	11
Unrecorded deferred tax liability for temporary differences related to foreign subsidiaries	118	124
Long-term liabilities
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Unrecognized tax benefits	594
U.S. Federal
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Deferred tax assets, operating loss carryforwards	670
State
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Deferred tax assets, operating loss carryforwards	75
Non-U.S.
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Deferred tax assets, operating loss carryforwards	6,600
United Kingdom
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Tax expense recorded from re-measurement of foreign deferred tax liabilities from changes in tax laws	$ 344	$ 139

Income taxes - components of ea

Income taxes - components of earnings before income tax provision (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
U.S.	$ 61	$ 759	$ 1,898
Non–U.S.	1,934	(313)	2,461
Earnings before income tax provision	$ 1,995	$ 446	$ 4,359

Income taxes - provision for in

Income taxes - provision for income taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Current provision
Federal	$ 79	$ 184	$ 228
State	115	49	46
Non–U.S.	234	135	183
Total current provisions for income taxes	428	368	457
Deferred provision
Federal	(10)	(83)	151
State	(46)	2	4
Non–U.S. – tax law change	344	139	0
Non–U.S. – excluding tax law change	(49)	(87)	(35)
Total non-current provisions for income taxes	239	(29)	120
Income tax provision	$ 667	$ 339	$ 577

Income taxes - reconciliation t

Income taxes - reconciliation to effective tax rate (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Federal statutory rate	21.00%	21.00%	21.00%
State income taxes, net of federal benefit	3.50%	8.80%	0.90%
Foreign income taxed at non-U.S. rates	(4.40%)	(17.00%)	(1.90%)
Non-taxable income	(5.00%)	(47.50%)	(3.60%)
Non-deductible expenses	0.30%	9.00%	0.20%
Tax law changes	17.30%	31.30%	(0.40%)
Change in valuation allowance	(4.70%)	4.10%	2.10%
Tax benefits from restructuring	(4.20%)	0.00%	0.00%
Tax expense on non-operating equity earnings	6.10%	0.00%	0.00%
Uncertain tax positions	6.20%	7.50%	(0.80%)
Goodwill impairment	0.00%	72.50%	0.00%
Tax credits	(1.80%)	(10.30%)	(4.40%)
Other	(0.90%)	(3.40%)	0.10%
Effective income tax rate	33.40%	76.00%	13.20%

Income taxes - deferred tax ass

Income taxes - deferred tax assets and liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Deferred tax assets:
Compensation and benefits	$ 175	$ 176
Postretirement benefits	0	88
Insurance	103	98
Accrued rent & lease obligations	5,372	5,187
Allowance for doubtful accounts	34	9
Tax attributes	7,467	6,781
Stock compensation	88	47
Deferred income	34	18
Other	0	50
Subtotal deferred tax assets	13,273	12,454
Less: valuation allowance	7,239	6,490
Total deferred tax assets	6,034	5,964
Deferred tax liabilities:
Accelerated depreciation	896	683
Inventory	377	345
Intangible assets	1,465	1,130
Equity method investment	236	542
Lease right-of-use asset	4,792	4,589
Other	30	0
Total deferred tax liabilities	7,796	7,289
Net deferred tax liabilities	$ 1,762	$ 1,325

Income taxes - unrecognized tax

Income taxes - unrecognized tax benefits (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits
Balance at beginning of year	$ 494	$ 455	$ 456
Gross increases related to tax positions in a prior period	229	60	33
Gross decreases related to tax positions in a prior period	(52)	(23)	(53)
Gross increases related to tax positions in the current period	446	9	26
Settlements with taxing authorities	(13)	(4)	(2)
Lapse of statute of limitations	(6)	(3)	(5)
Balance at end of year	$ 1,098	$ 494	$ 455

Stock compensation plans (Detai

Stock compensation plans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]
Total stock-based compensation expense	$ 155	$ 137	$ 119
Unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested awards	$ 151
Compensation cost not yet recognized period for recognition	3 years

Retirement benefits - fair valu

Retirement benefits - fair value hierarchy (Details) - Pension Plan - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	$ 10,475	$ 9,614	$ 9,131
Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	3,696	3,200
Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	5,637	5,523
Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	1,142	891
Equity securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	1,316	1,505
Equity securities | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	0	0
Equity securities | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	1,316	1,505
Equity securities | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	0	0
Fixed interest government bonds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	514	515
Fixed interest government bonds | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	101	111
Fixed interest government bonds | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	412	404
Fixed interest government bonds | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	0	0
Index linked government bonds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	3,521	4,168
Index linked government bonds | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	3,486	2,936
Index linked government bonds | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	35	1,232
Index linked government bonds | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	0	0
Corporate bonds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	2,851	2,730
Corporate bonds | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	1	1
Corporate bonds | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	2,850	2,729
Corporate bonds | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	0	0
Real estate
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	513	492
Real estate | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	0	0
Real estate | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	0	0
Real estate | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	513	492
Other investments, net
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	1,761	204
Other investments, net | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	107	152
Other investments, net | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	1,024	(347)
Other investments, net | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amount of defined benefit pension plan assets investment of fair market value	$ 629	$ 399

Retirement benefits - component

Retirement benefits - components of net periodic pension costs (Details) - Pension Plan - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Service costs (Selling, general and administrative expenses)	$ 6	$ 2	$ 2
Interest costs (Other income)	139	141	195
Expected returns on plan assets/other (Other income)	(332)	(285)	(245)
Total net periodic pension (income) cost	$ (188)	$ (142)	$ (48)

Retirement benefits - accumulat

Retirement benefits - accumulated other comprehensive income (Details) - Pension Plan - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net actuarial (gain) loss	$ (506)	$ 856	$ 90
Prior service cost	(1)	(1)	24
Total pre-tax comprehensive (income) expense	$ (507)	$ 855	$ 114

Retirement benefits - changes i

Retirement benefits - changes in benefit obligations (Details) - Pension Plan - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Change in benefit obligation [Roll Forward]
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$ 9,905	$ 8,795
Service costs	6	2	$ 2
Interest costs	139	141	195
Settlements	(2)	0
Net actuarial loss	75	491
Benefits paid	(320)	(330)
Acquisitions	182	0
Currency translation adjustments	223	806
Benefit obligation at end of year	$ 10,206	$ 9,905	$ 8,795

Retirement benefits - change in

Retirement benefits - change in plan assets (Details) - Pension Plan - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Plan assets at fair value at beginning of year	$ 9,614	$ 9,131
Employer contributions	53	35
Benefits paid	(320)	(330)
Return on assets/other	906	(31)
Settlements	(2)	0
Currency translation adjustments	223	810
Plan assets at fair value at end of year	$ 10,475	$ 9,614

Retirement benefits - balance s

Retirement benefits - balance sheet (Details) - Pension Plan - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Other non-current assets	$ 602	$ 0
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	(9)	(6)
Other non-current liabilities	(324)	(285)
Net asset (liability) recognized at end of year	$ 269	$ (291)

Retirement benefits - accumul_2

Retirement benefits - accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets (Details) - Pension Plan - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Projected benefit obligation	$ 10,206	$ 9,905
Accumulated benefit obligation	10,200	9,901
Fair value of plan assets	$ 10,475	$ 9,614

Retirement benefits - expected

Retirement benefits - expected future benefit payments (Details) - Pension Plan $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2021USD ($)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
2022	$ 291
2023	302
2024	311
2025	326
2026	344
2027-2031	$ 1,868

Retirement benefits - assumptio

Retirement benefits - assumptions (Details) - Pension Plan	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
Defined Benefit Plan, Weighted Average Assumptions Used in Calculating Benefit Obligation [Abstract]
Discount rate	1.71%	1.63%
Rate of compensation increase	2.80%	3.10%
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost
Discount rate	1.39%	1.58%
Expected long-term return on plan assets	3.50%	3.10%
Rate of compensation increase	2.77%	2.91%

Retirement benefits - narrative

Retirement benefits - narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Cash contributions to defined benefit pension plans	$ 41
Postretirement Health Benefit Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan obligation	154	$ 182
Expected benefit to be paid net of estimated federal subsidy during fiscal year 2021	9.5
United States
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Profit sharing provision expense	221	227	$ 239
Contributions to profit sharing	222	226	234
Foreign Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Cost recognized in the consolidated condensed statements of earnings	$ 101	$ 91	$ 101

Capital stock (Details)

Capital stock (Details) - USD ($) shares in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Apr. 30, 2017
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Cost of stock repurchased	$ 110,000,000	$ 1,589,000,000	$ 4,160,000,000
Stock repurchased during current fiscal year, value	$ 110,000,000	$ 103,000,000	$ 339,000,000
Shares of common stock reserved for future issuances (in shares)	71
June 2018 Stock Repurchase Program
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Share repurchase program, authorized maximum amount				$ 10,000,000,000
Shares repurchased during period (in shares)		30
Cost of stock repurchased		$ 1,500,000,000
Stock repurchase program, remaining authorized amount to be purchased	$ 2,000,000,000

Accumulated other comprehensi_3

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 21,136	$ 24,152	$ 26,689
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	1,669	148	(909)
Ending Balance	23,822	21,136	24,152
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(3,771)	(3,897)	(3,002)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	1,022	(69)	(889)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	6	0	(12)
Business disposal	792
Tax benefit (provision)	(157)	195	5
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	1,663	126	(896)
Ending Balance	(2,109)	(3,771)	(3,897)
Pension/post-retirement obligations
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(748)	(48)	101
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	532	(861)	(162)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(8)	(8)	(17)
Business disposal	(4)
Tax benefit (provision)	(132)	169	30
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	389	(700)	(149)
Ending Balance	(359)	(748)	(48)
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(31)	(24)	(30)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	10	(12)	1
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	17	5	5
Business disposal	0
Tax benefit (provision)	(6)	1	(1)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	21	(6)	5
Ending Balance	(10)	(31)	(24)
Net investment hedges
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(34)	55	0
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	(6)	(113)	73
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0	0	0
Business disposal	0
Tax benefit (provision)	6	23	(18)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(1)	(90)	55
Ending Balance	(35)	(34)	55
Unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	127	0	0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0	0	0
Business disposal	0
Tax benefit (provision)	(31)	0	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	96	0	0
Ending Balance	96	0	0
Share of AOCI of equity method investments
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(10)	3	3
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	(24)	(16)	(1)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0	0	0
Business disposal	0
Tax benefit (provision)	6	3	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(18)	(13)	(1)
Ending Balance	(29)	(10)	3
Cumulative translation adjustments
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(2,948)	(3,884)	(3,076)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	384	934	(801)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(3)	3	0
Business disposal	795
Tax benefit (provision)	0	(1)	(6)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	1,176	936	(807)
Ending Balance	$ (1,772)	$ (2,948)	$ (3,884)

Segment reporting - narrative (

Segment reporting - narrative (Details) - segment	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments	2
Three Third-Party Payers | Revenues | Customer Concentration Risk
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		33.00%	35.00%	35.00%

Segment reporting - results of

Segment reporting - results of operations of reportable segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	May 31, 2021	Feb. 28, 2021	Nov. 30, 2020	Aug. 31, 2020	May 31, 2020	Feb. 29, 2020	Nov. 30, 2019	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Sales	$ 34,262	$ 34,030	$ 32,779	$ 31,438	$ 30,371	$ 30,364	$ 31,336	$ 29,912	$ 132,509	$ 121,982	$ 120,074
Adjusted operating income									5,117	4,730	6,481
Depreciation and amortization									1,923	1,786	1,894
Capital expenditures									1,312	1,287	1,598
Adjustments to equity earnings (loss) in AmerisourceBergen									(1,645)	(97)	(233)
Transformational cost management									(417)	(719)	(327)
Acquisition-related amortization									(523)	(384)	(416)
Certain legal and regulatory accruals and settlements									(75)	0	(31)
LIFO provision									(13)	(95)	(136)
Acquisition-related costs									(54)	(315)	(303)
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets									(49)	(2,016)	(73)
Store optimization									0	(53)	(196)
Store damage and inventory losses									0	(68)	0
Operating income									2,342	982	4,766
Reportable Segments | United States
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Sales									112,005	107,701	104,532
Adjusted operating income									5,019	4,761	5,873
Depreciation and amortization									1,513	1,376	1,454
Capital expenditures									1,030	1,040	1,318
Reportable Segments | International
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Sales									20,505	14,281	15,542
Adjusted operating income									466	157	759
Depreciation and amortization									399	400	433
Capital expenditures									243	235	272
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Adjusted operating income									(368)	(187)	(152)
Depreciation and amortization									11	10	8
Capital expenditures									$ 39	$ 12	$ 8

Segment reporting - geographic

Segment reporting - geographic data (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	May 31, 2021	Feb. 28, 2021	Nov. 30, 2020	Aug. 31, 2020	May 31, 2020	Feb. 29, 2020	Nov. 30, 2019	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Sales	$ 34,262	$ 34,030	$ 32,779	$ 31,438	$ 30,371	$ 30,364	$ 31,336	$ 29,912	$ 132,509	$ 121,982	$ 120,074
Total long-lived assets	12,247				12,796				12,247	12,796
United States
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Sales									112,005	107,701	104,532
Total long-lived assets	9,665				10,344				9,665	10,344
United Kingdom
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Sales									8,298	7,830	8,947
Total long-lived assets	2,205				2,203				2,205	2,203
Germany
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Sales									10,472	4,876	4,713
Other
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Sales									1,734	1,575	$ 1,882
Total long-lived assets	$ 377				$ 250				$ 377	$ 250

Sales (Details)

Sales (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	May 31, 2021	Feb. 28, 2021	Nov. 30, 2020	Aug. 31, 2020	May 31, 2020	Feb. 29, 2020	Nov. 30, 2019	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales	$ 34,262	$ 34,030	$ 32,779	$ 31,438	$ 30,371	$ 30,364	$ 31,336	$ 29,912	$ 132,509	$ 121,982	$ 120,074
Reportable Segments | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales									112,005	107,701	104,532
Reportable Segments | United States | Pharmacy
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales									84,892	80,481	77,299
Reportable Segments | United States | Retail
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales									27,113	27,220	27,233
Reportable Segments | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales									20,505	14,281	15,542
Reportable Segments | International | Pharmacy
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales									3,808	3,503	3,653
Reportable Segments | International | Retail
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales									6,225	5,902	7,177
Reportable Segments | International | Wholesale
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Sales									$ 10,472	$ 4,876	$ 4,713

Related parties (Details)

Related parties (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Purchases, net	$ 62,513	$ 59,569	$ 57,429
Trade accounts payable, net	$ 6,589	$ 6,390	$ 6,484

Supplementary financial infor_3

Supplementary financial information - summary of quarterly results (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	May 31, 2021	Feb. 28, 2021	Nov. 30, 2020	Aug. 31, 2020	May 31, 2020	Feb. 29, 2020	Nov. 30, 2019	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Supplementary Financial Information [Abstract]
Sales	$ 34,262	$ 34,030	$ 32,779	$ 31,438	$ 30,371	$ 30,364	$ 31,336	$ 29,912	$ 132,509	$ 121,982	$ 120,074
Gross profit	7,503	7,153	6,781	6,630	6,324	5,959	7,017	6,777	28,067	26,078	28,159
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.:
Continuing operations	358	1,105	922	(391)	337	(1,794)	867	769	1,994	180	3,816
Discontinued operations	268	92	104	83	36	86	79	76	548	277	166
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	$ 627	$ 1,197	$ 1,026	$ (308)	$ 373	$ (1,708)	$ 946	$ 845	$ 2,542	$ 456	$ 3,982
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.41	$ 1.28	$ 1.07	$ (0.45)	$ 0.39	$ (2.05)	$ 0.98	$ 0.86	$ 2.31	$ 0.20	$ 4.14
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.31	0.11	0.12	0.10	0.04	0.10	0.09	0.08	0.63	0.31	0.18
Total (in dollars per share)	0.72	1.38	1.19	(0.36)	0.43	(1.95)	1.07	0.95	2.94	0.52	4.32
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.41	1.27	1.06	(0.45)	0.39	(2.05)	0.98	0.86	2.30	0.20	4.13
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.31	0.11	0.12	0.10	0.04	0.10	0.09	0.08	0.63	0.31	0.18
Total (in dollars per share)	0.72	1.38	1.19	(0.36)	0.43	(1.95)	1.07	0.95	2.93	0.52	$ 4.31
Cash dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.4775	$ 0.4675	$ 0.4675	$ 0.4675	$ 0.4675	$ 0.4575	$ 0.4575	$ 0.4575	$ 1.8800	$ 1.8400

Subsequent events (Details)

Subsequent events (Details) $ in Millions	Oct. 14, 2021USD ($)	Oct. 13, 2021co-locatedClinic	Sep. 17, 2021USD ($)	Sep. 04, 2021USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2021USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2026co-locatedClinic
VillageMD
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Consideration transferred to acquire equity method investments					$ 750
Payments to acquire equity method investments					$ 250
VillageMD | Forecast
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of co-located clinics | co-locatedClinic						1,000
Subsequent event | VillageMD
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Consideration transferred to acquire equity method investments	$ 5,200
Ownership percentage	63.00%	30.00%
Number of co-located clinics | co-locatedClinic		600
Payments to acquire equity method investments	$ 4,000
Subsequent event | VillageMD | Promissory Notes
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Face amount	$ 1,200
CareCentrix, Inc. | Subsequent event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Payments to acquire business				$ 330
Controlling interest percentage				55.00%
Shields Health Solutions | Subsequent event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Payments to acquire business			$ 970
Controlling interest percentage			71.00%